Curable composition

ABSTRACT

A curable composition including a fluorine-containing silane compound having two or more Si atoms each bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group, an organosilicon compound having at least two —O—Rg3(s) each bonding to a Si atom, wherein each Rg3, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or monovalent organic group, and a metal-based catalyst represented by M(-O—Rh)η, wherein: M represents a metal atom; each Rh, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and η is the coordination number of M.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a curable composition.

BACHGROUND ART

A composition including a certain fluoropolyether-based compound has excellent water-repellency, oil-repellency, and the like. For example. Patent Literature 1 describes rubber where a cured film of a room temperature curing perfluoropolyether composition is formed on the surface of the rubber, and describes the following: there is provided rubber to which releaseability, solvent resistance, chemical resistance, weather resistance, water-repellency, oil-repellency, and the like are imparted. The composition of Patent Literature 1 includes a condensation promoter, and dibutyltin dimethoxide or dibutyltin laulyrate is used as a condensation promoter in Examples of the Literature.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP 2005-220361 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

It, however, have found according to studies by the present inventor that the condensation promoter (catalyst) of Patent Literature 1, when used, may cause the degree of transparency of a cured product obtained by curing the composition to be low. An object of the present invention is to provide a composition suitable for formation of a cured product favorable in degree of transparency.

Solution to Problem

A first aspect of the present invention provides a curable composition including

a fluorine-containing silane compound having two or more Si atoms each bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group,

an organosilicon compound having at least two —O—R^(g3)(s) each bonding to a Si atom, wherein each R^(g3), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, and

a metal-based catalyst represented by M(-O—R^(h))_(η), wherein:

M represents a metal atom;

each R^(h), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and

η is the coordination number of M.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

An object of the present, invention is to provide a composition suitable for formation of a cured product favorable in degree of transparency.

Description of Embodiments

Hereinafter, the curable composition of the present invention will be described.

The curable composition of the present invention includes

a fluorine-containing silane compound having two or more Si atoms each bonding to at. least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “fluorine-containing silane compound”),

an organosilicon compound having at least two —O—R^(g3)(s) each bonding to a Si atom, wherein each R^(g3), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “cross-linking agent”), and

a metal-based catalyst represented by M(-O—R^(h))_(η), wherein M represents a metal atom, each R^(h), at each occurrence, is independently, a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and η is the coordination number of M.

(Fluorine-Containing Silane Compound)

The fluorine-containing silane compound is not limited as long as the compound has a fluorine-containing portion imparting water-repellency and chemical proofness and a silane moiety imparting a binding ability to other substance. The fluorine-containing silane compound refers to a compound where at least one hydrogen atom bonding to a carbon atom is substituted with a fluorine atom.

The fluorine-containing silane compound preferably further includes a perfluoro(poly)ether group. That is, the fluorine-containing silane compound is preferably a perfluoropolyether group-containing silane compound (hereinafter, also referred to as “PFPE-containing silane compound (A)”). The perfluoropolyether group here means a group where all hydrogen atoms of a polyether group are each substituted with a fluorine atom.

The “hydrolyzable group”, as used herein, means a group which can undergo a hydrolysis reaction, namely, means a group which can be removed from a main backbone of the compound by a hydrolysis reaction. Examples of the hydrolyzable group include —OR, —OCOR, —O—N═CR₂, —NR₂, —NHR and a halogen atom, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and —OR (namely, an alkoxy group) is preferable. Examples of R include unsubstituted alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a n-butyl group and an isobutyl group; and substituted alkyl groups such as a chloromethyl group. Among them, an alkyl group, in particular, an unsubstituted alkyl group is preferable, and a methyl group or an ethyl group is more preferable. The hydroxyl group is not limited, and may be generated by hydrolyzing the hydrolyzable group. Examples of the halogen atom can include a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom a bromine atom and an iodine atom, and in particular, a chlorine atom is preferable.

Such a Si atom bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group is preferably present at each of both ends of a molecular backbone of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)). The molecular backbone of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)) here represents a relatively longest binding chain in a molecule of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)).

The PFPE-containing silane compound (A) is preferably at least one compound represented by formula (A), (B), (C) or (D).

Hereinafter, such any PFPE-containing silane compound (A) represented by formulae (A), (B), (C) and (D) will be described.

The “di- to decavalent organic group”, as used herein, means a di- to decavalent group containing carbon. The di- to decavalent organic group is not limited, and examples thereof Include a di- to decavalent group where 1 to 9 hydrogen atoms are further removed from a hydrocarbon group. The divalent organic group is not limited, and examples thereof include a divalent group where one hydrogen atom is further removed from a hydrocarbon group.

The “hydrocarbon group”, as used herein, means a group which contains carbon and hydrogen and which is obtained by removing one hydrogen atom from a molecule. The hydrocarbon group is not limited, and examples thereof include a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with one or more substituents, such as an aliphatic hydrocarbon group and an aromatic hydrocarbon group. For example, the “aliphatic hydrocarbon group” may be any linear, branched or cyclic group, and may be any saturated or unsaturated group. For example, the hydrocarbon group may contain one or more ring structures. The hydrocarbon group may have one or more N, O, S, Si, amide, sulfonyl, siloxane, carbonyl, carbonyloxy, and the like at an end thereof or in a molecular chain thereof.

Each substituent of the “hydrocarbon group”, as used herein, is not limited, and examples thereof include a halogen atom; and one or more groups selected from a C₁₋₆ alkyl group, a C₂₋₆ alkenyl group, a C₂₋₆ alkynyl group, a C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl group, a C₃₋₁₀ unsaturated cycloalkyl group, a 5 to 10-membered heterocyclyl group, a 5 to 10-membered unsaturated heterocyclyl group, a C₆₋₁₀ aryl group and a 5 to 10-membered heteroaryl group each optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms.

The alkyl group and the phenyl group may be herein unsubstituted or substituted, unless particularly noted. Each substituent of such groups is not limited, and examples thereof include one or more groups selected from a halogen atom, a C₁₋₆ alkyl group, a C₂₋₆ alkenyl group and a C₂₋₆ alkynyl group.

In the formulae, PFPE, at each occurrence, is independently a group represented by: —(OC₆F₁₂)_(a)—(OC₅F₁₀)_(b)—(OC₄F₈)_(c)—(OC₃X¹⁰ ₆)_(d)—(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—. In the formulae, a, b, c, d, e and f are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 200 or less, and the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is at least 1. Preferably, a, b, c, d, e and f are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 100 or less. Preferably, the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is 5 or more, more preferably 10 or more. Preferably, the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is 200 or less, more preferably 100 or less, for example, 10 or more and 200 or less, more specifically 10 or more and 100 or less. The occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with a, b, c, d, e or f is not limited in the formula. Each X¹⁰, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom, preferably a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom, more preferably a fluorine atom.

Such repeating units may, for example, be linear or branched, and are preferably linear. For example, —(OC₆F₁₂)— may be —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF(CF₃))—, or the like, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—. For example, —(OC₅F₁₀)— may be —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF(CF₃))—, or the like, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OC₄F₈)— may be any of —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF(CF₃))—, —(OC(CF₃)₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂C(CF₃)₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF(CF₃))—, —(OCF(C₂F₅)CF₂)— and —(OCF₂CF(C₂F₅))—, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂) —, —(OC₃F₆)— (namely, in the formulae, X¹⁰ represents a fluorine atom) may be any of —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)— and —(OCF₂CF(CF₃))—, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)——, —(OC₂F₄)— may be any of —(OCF₂CF₂)— and —(OCF(CF₃))—, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂)—.

In one embodiment, PFPE is —(OC₃F₆)_(d)—, wherein d is an integer of 1 or more and 200 or less, preferably 5 or more and 200 or less, more preferably 10 or more and 200 or less. Preferably, PFPE is —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)_(d)—, wherein d is an integer of 1 or more and 200 or less, preferably 5 or more and 200 or less, more preferably 10 or more and 200 or less, or —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)_(d)—, wherein d is an integer of 1 or more and 200 or less, preferably 5 or more and 200 or less, more preferably 10 or more and 200 or less. More preferably, PFPE is —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)_(d)—, wherein d is an integer of 1 or more and 200 or less, preferably 5 or more and 200 or less, more preferably 10 or more and 200 or less.

In another embodiment, PFPE 13 —(OC₄F₈)_(c)—(OC₃F₆)_(d)—(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—, wherein c and d are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 30 or less, e and f are each independently 1 or more and 200 or less, preferably 5 or more and 200 or less, more preferably an integer of 10 or more and 200 or less, the sum of c, d, e and f is at least 5 or more, preferably 10 or more, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with the subscript c, d, e or f is not limited in the formulae. Preferably, FFPE is —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)_(c)—(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)_(d)—(OCF₂CF₂)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—.

In one embodiment, PFPE may be —(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—, wherein e and f are each independently an integer of 1 or more and 200 or less, preferably 5 or more and 200 or less, more preferably 10 or more and 200 or less, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with the subscript, e or f is not limited in the formulae. The curable composition of the present invention, which includes the PFFE-containing silane compound (A), can contribute to formation of a cured product which can keep rubber properties even at a low temperature.

In still another embodiment, PFPE is a group represented by —(R⁶—R⁷)_(j)—. In the formulae, R⁶ represents OCF₂ or OC₂F₄, preferably OC₂F₄. In the formula, R⁷ represents a group selected from OC₂F₄, OC₃F₆, OC₄F₆, OC₅F₁₀ and OC₆F₁₂, or a combination of two or three groups independently selected from the above groups. Preferably, R⁷ represents a group selected from OC₂F₄, OC₃F₆ and OC₄F₈, or a combination of two or three groups independently selected from the above groups, and is more preferably a group selected from OC₃F₆ and OC₄F₈. Such a combination of two or three groups independently selected from OC₂F₄, OC₃F₆ and OC₄F₈ is not limited, and examples thereof include —OC₂F₄OC₃F₆—, —OC₂F₄OC₄F₈—, —OC₃F₆OC₂F₄—, —OC₃F₆OC₃F₆—, —OC₃F₆OC₄F₈—, —OC₄F₈OC₄F₈—, —OC₄F₈OC₃F₆—, —OC₄F₈OC₂F₄—, —OC₂F₄OC₂F₄OC₃F₆—, —OC₂F₄OC₂F₄OC₄F₈—, —OC₂F₄OC₃F₆OC₂F₄—, —OC₂F₄OC₃F₆OC₃F₆—, —OC₂F₄OC₄F₈OC₂F₄—, —OC₃F₆OC₂F₄OC₂F₄—, —OC₃F₆OC₂F₄OC₃F₆—, —OC₃F₆OC₃F₆OC₂F₄—, and —OC₄F₈OC₂F₄OC₂F₄—. Here, j is an integer of 2 or more, preferably 3 or more, more preferably 5 or more, and an integer of 100 or less, preferably 50 or less. In the formulae, OC₂F₄, OC₃F₆, OC₄F₈, OC₆F₁₀ and OC₆F₁₂ may be linear or branched, and is preferably linear. In this embodiment, PFPE is preferably —(OC₂F₄—OC₃F₆)_(j)— or —(OC₂F₄—OC₄F₈)_(j)—.

The ratio of e to f in PFPE (hereinafter, referred to as “e/f ratio”) is 0.1 or more and 10 or less, preferably 0.2 or more and 5 or less, more preferably 0.2 or more and 2 or less, further preferably 0.2 or more and 1.5 or less. The e/f ratio, which falls within the range, can more enhance water-repellency, oil-repellency and chemical resistance (for example, durability to brine, aqueous acidic or basic solution, acetone, oleic acid or hexane) of a cured product obtained from the compound. A lower e/f ratio more enhances water-repellency, oil-repellency and chemical resistance of the cured product. On the other hand, an e/f ratio of 0.1 or more can more enhance stability of the compound. A higher e/f ratio more enhances stability of the compound.

The e/f ratio may fee less than 1.0, may be 0.10 or more, may be 0.20 or more, or may be 0.40 or more. The e/f ratio may be 0.90 or less, may be 0.85 or less, or may be 0.80 or less. The e/f ratio is, for example, 0.10 or more and less than 1.0, specifically 0.20 or more and 0.90 or less, more specifically 0.40 or more and 0.85 or less, further specifically 0.40 or more and 0.80 or less.

The e/f ratio may be 1.0 or more, may be 1.1 or more, or may be 1.2 or more, and may be 10.0 or less, may be 5.0 or less, may be 2.0 or less, or may be 1.5 or less. The e/f ratio is, for example, 1.0 or more and 10.0 or less, specifically 1.0 or more and 5.0 or less, more specifically 1.0 or more and 2.0 or less, further specifically 1.0 or more and 1.5 or less.

The temperature of 1% decomposition of a cured product of a curable composition where the e/f ratio is in the range can be a relatively high temperature. That is, such a curable composition can contribute to formation of a cured product usable in a wide temperature range. The “temperature of 1% decomposition” herein means a temperature at which 1% by mass of a cured product relative to the entire cured product is decomposed. The temperature of 1% decomposition means a value obtained by measurement according to thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and is specifically measured in the range from 25° C. to 600° C. at a temperature-increasing rate of 10° C./min under an oxygen atmosphere. Examples of the TG/DTA can include DTG-60 manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation.

In one embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety in the PFPE-containing silane compound (A) may be in the range from 2000 to 200000, or may be in the range from 3000 to 100000. The number average molecular weight is defined as a value obtained by ¹⁹F-NMR measurement.

The number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety in the PFPE-containing silane compound (A) is not limited, and is, for example, 500 to 30,000, preferably 1,500 to 30,000, more preferably 2,000 to 10,000.

In another embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety is 500 to 30,000, preferably 1,000 to 20,000, more preferably 2,000 to 15,000, still more preferably 2,000 to 10,000, and can be, for example, 3,000 to 6,000.

In another embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety can be 4,000 to 30,000, preferably 5,000 to 10,000, more preferably 6,000 to 10,000.

In one embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety can be in the range from 2,000 to 10,000, and is preferably in the range from 2,000 to 3,000. The compound can have such a number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety to thereby allow the curable composition to be low in viscosity and be improved in handleability. The curable composition having such a number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety, when, for example, used with a solvent to be formed into a solution, also has the advantage of suppression of the viscosity of such a solution.

In one embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety can be in the range from 10,000 to 100,000, and is preferably in the range from 10,000 to 50,000. The compound can have such a number average molecular weight of the —PFPE- moiety to thereby allow the curable composition to be improved in physical properties such as stretching properties after curing.

In the formulae, each R¹³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group. The hydrolyzable group has the same meaning as described above.

In the formulae, each R¹⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

In the formulae, each R¹¹, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom. The halogen atom is preferably an iodine atom, a chlorine atom or a fluorine atom, more preferably a fluorine atom.

In the formulae, each R¹², at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and examples thereof include a methyl group, an ethyl group and a propyl group.

In the formulae, R¹¹″, R¹²″, R¹³″ and R¹⁴″ have the same meanings as R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴, respectively.

In formula (A), such a Si atom bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group indicates a Si atom contained in (—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1)) or (—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)) where n1 is an integer of 1 to 3.

In the formulae, n1 with respect, to each (—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1)) unit or each (—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)) unit is independently an integer of 0 to 3, preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 3. In the formulae, at least two n1(s) are each an integer of 1 to 3, namely, there is not any case where all n1(s) are simultaneously 0. That is, at least two Si atoms each bonding to R¹³ or R¹³″ are present in the formulae. In other words, at least two structures selected from the group consisting of a —SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1) structure (namely, —SiR¹³ moiety) where n1 is 1 or more and a —SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1) structure (namely, —SiR^(13″) moiety) where n1 is 1 or more are present in formula (A).

Preferably, the Si atom bending to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group is present at both ends of a molecular backbone in formula (A). That is, at least one —SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1) structure (namely, —SiR¹³ moiety) where n1 is 1 or more and at least one —SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1) structure (namely, —SiR^(13″) moiety) where n1 is 1 or more are present in formula (A).

In the formulae, each X¹ independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group. X¹ is understood to be a linker which links a perfluoropolyether moiety (namely, —PFPE- moiety) mainly providing water-repellency, surface lubricity, and the like, and a silane moiety (namely, group in parentheses with α1) providing a binding ability to the base material in any compound represented by formula (A). Accordingly, X¹ may be a single bond or any organic group as long as such any compound represented by formula (A) can be stably present. Herein, a left portion and a right portion of the group designated as X¹ are bonding to the group represented by PFPE and the group in parentheses with α1, respectively.

In another embodiment, X¹ can be X^(e). X^(e) represents a single bend or a di- to decavalent organic group, preferably represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group having at least one selected from the group consisting of —C₆H₄— (namely, -phenylene-, hereinafter, representing a phenylene group), —CO— (carbonyl group), —NR⁴— and —SO₂—. Each R⁴ independently represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, or a C₁₋₆ alkyl group (preferably a methyl group), preferably represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group. Such —C₆H₄—, —CO—, —NR⁴— or —SO₂— is preferably contained in a molecular backbone of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A).

X^(e) more preferably represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group having at least one selected from the group consisting of —C₆H₄—, —CONR⁴—, —CONR⁴—C₆H₄—, —CO—, —CO—C₆H₄—, —SO₂NR⁴—, —SO₂NR⁴—C₆H₄—, —SO₂—, and —SO₂—C₆H₄—. Such —C₆H₄—, —CONR⁴—, —CONR⁴—C₆H₄—, —CO—, —CO—C₆H₄—, —SO₂NR⁴—, —SO₂NR⁴—C₆H₄—, —SO₂—, or —SO₂—C₆H₄— is preferably contained in a molecular backbone of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A).

In the formulae, α1 is an integer of 1 to 9, and may be varied depending on the valence of X¹. In formula (A), α1 corresponds to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the valence of X¹. In the case where X¹ is a single bond, α1 is 1.

X¹ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X¹ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, and al is 1 to 3.

In another embodiment, X¹ is a divalent organic group, and α1 is 1. In such a case, formula (A) is represented by the following formula (A′).

Examples of X¹ are not limited, and include a divalent group represented by the following formula:

—(R³¹)_(p′)—(X^(a))_(q′)—

wherein:

R³¹ represents a single bond, —(CH₂)_(3′)—, or an o-, m- or p-phenylene group, preferably represents —(CH₂)_(s′)—,

s′ is an integer of 1 to 20, preferably an integer of 1 to 6, more preferably an integer of 1 to 3, still more preferably 1 or 2,

X^(s) represents, —(X^(b))₁—,

each X^(b), at each occurrence, independently represents a group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, o-, m- or p-phenylene group, —C(O)O—, —Si(R³³)₂—, —(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—, —CONR³⁴—, —O—CONR³⁴—, —NR³⁴— and —(CH₂)_(n1)—,

each R³³, at each occurrence, independently represents a phenyl group, a C₁₋₆ alkyl group or a C₁₋₆ alkoxy group, preferably represents a phenyl group or a C₁₋₆ alkyl group, more preferably represents a methyl group,

each R³⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, or a C₁₋₆ alkyl group (preferably a methyl group),

each m′, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 to 100, preferably an integer of 1 to 20,

each n′, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 to 20, preferably an integer of 1 to 6, more preferably an integer of 1 to 3,

l′ is an integer of 1 to 10, preferably an integer of 1 to 5, more preferably an integer of 1 to 3,

p′ is 0 or 1, and

q′ is 0 or 1,

provided that at least one of p′ and q′ is 1, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with p′ or q′ is not limited. Here, R¹¹ and X^(a) (typically, any hydrogen atom in R³¹ and X^(a)) are each optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₃ alkyl group and a C₁₋₃ fluoroalkyl group.

In one embodiment, l′ is 1.

Preferably, X¹ is —(R³¹)_(p′)—(X^(a))_(q′)—R³²—. R³² represents a single bond, or an o-, m- or p-phenylene group, preferably —(CH₂)_(t′)—. Here, t′ is an integer of 1 to 20, preferably an integer of 2 to 6, more preferably an integer of 2 to 3. Here, R³² (typically, any hydrogen atom in R³²) is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₃ alkyl group and a C₁₋₃ fluoroalkyl group.

Preferably, X¹ can be

-   a single bond, -   a C₁₋₂₀ alkylene group, -   —R³¹X^(c)—R³²—, or -   —X^(d)—R³²— -   wherein R³¹ and R³² have the same meanings as described above.     Herein, such an alkylene group is a group having a —(C₈H₂₈)—     structure, and is optionally substituted or unsubstituted and is     optionally linear or branched.

More preferably, X¹ is

-   a single bond, -   a C₁₋₂₀ alkylene group, -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—, -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   —X^(d)—, or -   —X^(d)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   wherein s′ and t′ have the same meanings as described above.

Further preferably, X¹ is

-   —X^(f)—, -   a —X^(f)—C₁₋₂₀ alkylene group, -   —X^(f)—(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—, -   —X^(f)—(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   —X^(f)—X^(d)—, or -   —X^(f)—X^(d)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   wherein s′ and t′ have the same meanings as described above.

In the formulae, X^(f) is an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 4 carbon atoms, more preferably 1 to 2 carbon atoms, for example, a methylene group. Any hydrogen atom in X^(f) is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₃ alkyl group and a C₁₋₃ fluoroalkyl group, and is preferably substituted. X^(f) may be linear or branched, and is preferably linear.

In the formulae, X^(c) represents

-   —O—, -   —S—, -   —C(O)O—, -   —CONR³⁴—, -   —O—CONR³⁴—, -   —Si(R³³)₂—, —(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—, -   —O—(CH₂)_(u′)—(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—, -   —O—(CH₂)_(u′)—Si(R³³)₂—O—Si(R³³)₂—CH₂CH₂—Si(R³³)₂—O—Si(R³³)₂—, -   —O—(CH₂)_(u′)—Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂—, -   —CONR³⁴—(CH₂)_(u′)—(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—, -   —CONR³⁴—(CH₂)_(u′)—N(R³⁴)—, or -   —CONR³⁴-(o-, m- or p-phenylene)-Si(R³³)₂— -   wherein R³³, R³⁴ and m′ have the same meanings as described above,     and

u′ is an integer of 1 to 20, preferably an integer of 2 to 6, more preferably an integer of 2 to 3. X^(c) is preferably —O—.

In the formulae, X^(d) represents

-   —S—, -   —C(O)O—, -   —CONR³⁴—, -   —CONR³⁴—(CH₂)_(u′)—(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—, -   —CONR³⁴—(CH₂)_(u′)—N(R³⁴)—, or -   —CONR³⁴-(o-, m- or p-phenylene) —Si(R³³)₂— -   wherein each symbol has the same meaning as described above.

Particularly preferably, X¹ is a group represented by

-   —X^(f)—, -   a —X^(f)—C₁₋₂₀ alkylene group, -   —X^(f)—(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—, -   —X^(f)—(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   —X^(f)—X^(d)—, or -   —X^(f)—X^(d)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   wherein X^(f), s′ and t′ have the same meanings as described above; -   X^(c) represents —O—, or —CONR³⁴—, -   X^(d) represents —CONR³⁴—, and

each R³⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, or a C₁₋₆ alkyl group (preferably a methyl group).

In one embodiment, X¹ is a group represented by

-   —X^(f)—(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—, -   —X^(f)—(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   —X^(f)—X^(d)—, or -   —X^(f)—X^(d)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   wherein X^(f), s′ and t′ have the same meanings as described above;

X^(c) represents —CONR³⁴—,

X^(d) represents —CONR³⁴—, and

each R³⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group or a C₁₋₆ alkyl group (preferably a methyl group).

In one embodiment, X¹ can be,

-   a single bond, -   a C₁₋₂₀ alkylene group, -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—X^(c)—(CH₂)_(t′)—, or -   —X^(d)—(CH₂)_(t′)— -   wherein each symbol has the same meaning as described above.

Preferably, X¹ is

-   a single bond, -   a C₁₋₂₀ alkylene group, -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—O—(CH₂)_(t′)—, -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—(CH₂)_(t′)—, -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—O—(CH₂)_(u′)—(Si(R³³)₂O)_(m′)—Si(R³³)₂—(CH₂)_(t′)—, or -   —(CH₂)_(s′)—O—(CH₂)_(t′)—Si(R³³)₂—(CH₂)_(u′—Si(R)     ³³)₂—(C_(v)H_(2v))— -   wherein R³³, m′, s′, t′ and u′ have the same meanings as described     above, and v is an integer of 1 to 20, preferably an integer of 2 to     6, more preferably an integer of 2 to 3.

In the formulae, —(C_(v)H_(2v))— is optionally linear or branched, and can be, for example, —CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂—, —CH₂CH₂CH₂—, —CH(CH₃)— or —CH(CH₃)CH₂—.

The X¹ group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₃ alkyl group and a C₁₋₄ fluoroalkyl group (preferably C₁₋₃ perfluoroalkyl group).

In one embodiment, the X¹ group can be other than a —O—C₁₋₆ alkylene group.

In another embodiment, examples of the X¹ group include the following groups:

wherein each R⁴¹ independently represents a hydrogen atom a phenyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a C₁₋₆ alkoxy group, preferably a methyl group;

D is a group selected from

-   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)—(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl; and

wherein each R⁴² independently represents a hydrogen atom, a C₁₋₆ alkyl group or a C₁₋₆ alkoxy group, preferably a methyl group or a methoxy group, more preferably a methyl group;

E is —(CH₂)_(ne)— (ne is an integer of 2 to 6),

D is bonding to PFPE of a molecular backbone, and E is bonding to a group opposite to PFPE.

Specific examples of X¹ include:

-   a single bond, -   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF (CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂(CH₂)₇CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CO—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —S—(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₂)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —C(O) O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —C(O)O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH(CH₃)—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₂)₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, and -   —OCFHCF₂—

In particular, X¹ is preferably

-   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂-(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH (CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, or -   —OCFHCF₂—.

In particular, X¹ is more preferably

-   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₃CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—.

In one embodiment, X¹ represents X^(e′). X^(e′) is a single bond, an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, —R⁵¹—C₆H₄—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—CONR⁴—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—CONR⁴—C₆H₄—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—CO—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—CO—C₆H₄—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—SO₂NR⁴—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—SO₂NR⁴—C₆H₄—R⁵²—, —R⁵¹—SO₂—R⁵²—, or —R⁵¹—SO₂—C₆H₄—R⁵²—. R⁵¹ and R⁵² each independently represent a single bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably a single bond or an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. R⁴ has the same meaning as described above. The alkylene group is substituted or unsubstituted, preferably unsubstituted. Examples of the substituent of the alkylene group can include a halogen atom, preferably a fluorine atom. The alkylene group is linear or branched, preferably linear.

In a preferable embodiment, X^(e′) can be a single bond,

-   —X^(f)—, -   an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3     carbon atoms, -   a —X^(f)—C₁₋₆ alkylene group, preferably a —X^(f)—C₁₋₃ alkylene     group, more preferably -   a —X^(f)—C₁₋₂ alkylene group, -   —C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—R^(52′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—R^(52′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —CO—R^(52′)—, -   —CO—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —SO₂NR^(4′)—R^(52′)—, -   —SO₂NR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —SO₂—R^(52′)—, -   —SO₂—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —R^(51′)—C₆H₄—, -   —R^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—, -   —R^(51═)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —R^(51′)—CO—, -   —R^(51′)—CO—C₆H₄—, -   —R^(51′)—SO₂NR^(4′)—, -   —R^(51′)—SO₂NR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —R^(51′)—SO₂—, -   —R^(51′)—SO₂—C₆H₄—, -   —C₆H₄—, -   —CONR^(4′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —CO—, -   —CO—C₆H₄—, -   —SO₂NR^(4′)—, -   —SO₂NR^(4′)—C₆H₄— -   —SO₂—, or -   —SO₂—C₆H₄— -   wherein R^(51′) and R^(52′) each independently represent a linear     alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon     atoms. The alkylene group is substituted or unsubstituted, as     described above, and examples cf the substituent of the alkylene     group can include a halogen atom, preferably a fluorine atom, and

R^(4′) is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

In particular, X^(e′) can be preferably —X^(f)—,

-   an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3     carbon atoms, or -   a alkylene group, preferably a —X^(f)—C₁₋₃ alkylene group, more     preferably -   a —X^(f)—C₁₋₂ alkylene group, -   —CONR^(4′)R^(52′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —X⁶—CONR^(4′)—R^(52′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —R^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—, -   —R^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —CONR^(4′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —X^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—, or -   —R^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—. In the formulae, X^(f), R^(4′), R^(51′)     and R^(52′) each have the same meanings as described above.

In particular, X^(e′) can be more preferably

-   —CONR^(4′)—R^(52′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—R^(52′)—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—R^(52′)—, -   —R^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—, -   —R^(51′)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —CONR^(4′)—, -   —CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—, -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′l —, or) -   —X^(f)—CONR^(4′)—C₆H₄—.

In the present embodiment, specific examples of X^(e′) include

-   a single bond, -   a perfluoroalkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example,     —CF₂—, —(CF₂)₂—), -   an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, -   —CF₂—C₁₋₆ alkylene group, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CDNH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—, -   —CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—CONH—, -   —CH₂—CONH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—C₆H₄—, -   —CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CH₂-CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CONH—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CH₂CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CO—, -   —CO—C₆H₄—, -   —C₆H₄—, -   —SO₂NH—, -   —SO₂NH—CH₂—, -   —SO₂NH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —SO₂NH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —SO₂NH—C₆H₄—, -   —SO₂N(CH₃)—, -   —SO₂N(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —SO₂N(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —SO₂N(CH₃)—(CH₃)₃—, -   —SO₂N(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —SO₂—, -   —SO₂—CH₂—, -   —SO₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —SO₂—(CH₂)₃—, or -   —SO₂—C₆H₄—.

In the above list, examples of preferable X^(e′) include an alkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a perfluoroalkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, —CF₂— and —(CF₂)₂—),

-   a —CF₂—C₁₋₆ alkylene group, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—, -   —CON (CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CON (CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₂)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—CONH—, -   —CH₂—CONH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—C₆H₄—, -   —CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₃)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄— -   —CF₂—CONH—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, and -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄.

In the above list, examples of mere preferable X^(e′) include

-   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF—CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—, -   —CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—CONH—, -   —CH₂—CONH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—C₆H₄—, -   —CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄— -   —CF₂—CONH—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, or -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—C₆H₄—.

In one embodiment, X^(e′) is a single bond. In the present embodiment, PFPE and a group having a binding ability to the base material (namely, group in parentheses with α1 in (A)) are directly bonded.

In still another embodiment, X¹ is a group represented by formula: —(R¹⁶)_(x)—(CFR¹⁷)_(y)—(CH₂)_(z)—. In the formula, x, y and z are each independently an integer of 0 to 10, the sum of x, y and z is 1 or more, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses is not limited in the formula.

In the formula, each R¹⁶, at each occurrence, independently represents an oxygen atom, phenylene, carbazolylene, —NR¹⁸—, wherein R¹⁸ represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group, or a divalent organic group. Preferably, R¹⁶ is an oxygen atom or a divalent polar group.

The “divalent polar group” is not limited, and examples thereof include —C(O)—, —C(═NR¹⁹)—, and —C(O)NR¹⁹—, wherein R¹⁹ represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The “lower alkyl group” is, for example, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, or a n-propyl group, and such a group is optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.

In the formula, each R¹⁷, at each occurrence, is independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a lower fluoroalkyl group, preferably a fluorine atom. The “lower fluoroalkyl group” is, for example, a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, more preferably a trifluoromethyl group or a pentafluoroethyl group, further preferably a trifluoromethyl group.

In this embodiment, X¹ is preferably a group represented by formula: —(O)_(x)—(CF₂)_(y)—(CH₂)_(z)—, wherein x, y and z have the same meanings as described above, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses is not limited in the formula.

Examples of the group represented by formula: —(O)_(z)—(CF₂)_(y)—(CH₂)_(z)— include any group represented by —(O)_(x′)—(CH₂)_(z′)—O—[(CH₂)_(z′″)—O—]_(z″″), and —(O)_(x′)—(CF₂)_(y″)—(CH₂)_(z″)—O—[(CH₂)_(z′″)—O—]_(z″″), wherein x′ is 0 or 1, y″, z″ and z′″ are each independently an integer of 1 to 10, and z″″ is 0 or 1. Herein, a left end of such a group is bonding to PFPE.

In another preferable embodiment, X¹ is —O—CFR²⁰—(CF₂)_(e′)—.

Each R²⁰ independently represents a fluorine atom or a lower fluoroalkyl group. The lower fluoroalkyl group is, for example, a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, more preferably a trifluoromethyl group or a pentafluoroethyl group, further preferably a trifluoromethyl group.

Each e′ is independently 0 or 1.

In one specific example, R²⁰ is a fluorine atom and e′ is 3.

In still another embodiment, examples of the X¹ group include the following groups:

wherein

each R⁴¹ independently represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a C₁₋₄ alkoxy group, preferably a methyl group;

any number of the Ts in each X¹ group is the following group bonding to PPPE of a molecular backbone:

-   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—. -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, or

wherein each R⁴² independently represents a hydrogen atom, a C₁₋₅ alkyl group or a C₁₋₆ alkoxy group, preferably a methyl group or a methoxy group, more preferably a methyl group, some other of the Ts is —(CH₂)_(n″)— (n″ is an integer of 2 to 6) bonding to a group opposite to PFPE of a molecular backbone, and the remaining T, if present, can be independently a methyl group, a phenyl group, a C₁₋₆ alkoxy group, or a radical scavenging group or an UV absorbing group. Also in the embodiment, a left portion and a right portion ox the group designated as X¹ are bonding to the group represented by PFFE and the group in parentheses with α1, respectively.

The radical, scavenging group is not limited as long as it can scavenge a radial generated by light irradiation, and examples thereof include a residue of benzophenones, benzotriazoles, benzoates, phenyl salicylates, crotonic acids, malonates, organoacrylates, hindered amines, hindered phenols, or triazines.

The UV absorbing group is not limited as long as it can absorb ultraviolet light, and examples thereof include a residue of benzotriazoles, hydroxybenzophenones, esters of substituted and unsubstituted benzoic acid or salicylic acid compounds, acrylates or alkoxy cinnamates, oxamides, oxanilides, benzoxazinones, and benzoxazoles.

In a preferable embodiment, examples of a preferable radical scavenging group or an UV absorbing group include

In this embodiment, X¹ (and, the following X³, X⁵ and X⁷) can be a tri- to decavalent organic group.

In the formulae, each X², at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond or a divalent organic group. X² is preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably —(CH₂)_(u)—, wherein u is an integer of 0 to 2.

In the formulae, each t is independently an integer of 1 to 10. In a preferable embodiment, t is an integer of 1 to 6. In another preferable embodiment, t is an integer of 2 to 10, preferably an integer of 2 to 6.

A preferable compound represented by formula (A) is a compound represented by the following formula (A′):

wherein:

each PFPE, at each occurrence, is independently a group represented by formula:

—(OC₆F₁₂)_(a)—(OC₅F₁₀)_(b)—(OC₄F₈)_(c)—(OC₃F₆)_(d)—(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—

wherein a, b, c, d, e and f are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 200 or less, the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is at least 1, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with a, b, c, d, e or f is not limited in the formula;

each R¹³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group;

each R¹⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms;

each R¹¹, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom;

each R¹², at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group;

R^(11″), R^(12″), R^(13″), R^(14″) have the same meanings as R¹¹, R²², R¹³, R¹⁴, respectively;

n1 is an integer of 1 to 3, preferably 3;

each X¹, at each occurrence, is independently —O—CFR²⁰—(CF₂)_(e′)—;

each R²⁰, at each occurrence, is independently a fluorine atom or a lower fluoroalkyl group;

each e′, at each occurrence, is independently 0 or 1;

X² is —(CH₂)_(u)—;

each u, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 2; and

each t, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 2 to 10.

Such any compound represented by formula (A) can be obtained by, for example, introducing iodine into an end of a perfluoropolyether derivative corresponding to a —PFPE- moiety, as a raw material, and reacting a vinyl monomer corresponding to —CH₂CR¹²(X²—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n2))—.

Formula (B):

(R¹⁴ _(3-n1)R¹³ _(n1)Si)_(⊕1)—X³—PFPE-X³—(SiR^(13″)R^(14″) _(3-n1))_(β1)   (B)

In formula (B), PFPE, R¹³, R^(13″), R¹⁴, R^(14″) and n1 have the same meanings as described with respect to the formula (A).

In formula (B), such a Si atom bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group indicates a Si atom contained in (—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1)) or (—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(n1)) where n1 is an integer of 1 to 3.

In the formulae, n1 with respect to each (—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1)) unit or each (—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)) unit is independently an integer of 0 to 3, preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 3. In the formulae, at least two n1(s) are each an integer of 1 to 3, namely, there is not any case where all n1(s) are simultaneously 0. That is, at least two of R¹³ and R^(13″) are present in the formulae. That is, at least two structures selected from the group consisting of a —SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1) structure (namely, —SiR¹³ moiety) where n1 is 1 or more and a —SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1) structure (namely, —SiR^(13″) moiety) where n1 is 1 or more are present in formula (B).

More preferably, at least one Si bonding to the hydroxyl group or the hydrolyzable group is present at each of both ends of a molecular backbone of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A), in formula (B). That is, at least one —SiR¹³ moiety is present, and at least one —SiR^(13″) moiety is present.

In the formulae, each X³ independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group. X³ is understood to be a linker which links a perfluoropolyether moiety (namely, —PFPE- moiety) mainly providing water-repellency, surface lubricity, and the like, and a silane moiety (specifically, —SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1) or —SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)) providing a binding ability to the base material, in any compound represented by formula (B). Accordingly, X³ may be a single bend or any organic group as long as such any compound represented by formula (B) can be stably present. Herein, a left portion and a right portion of the structure designated as X³ are bonding to the group represented by PFPE and the group in parentheses with β1, respectively.

In another embodiment, X³ represents X^(e). X^(e) has the same meaning as described above.

In the formulae, pi is an integer of 1 to 9, and may be varied depending on the valence of X³. In formula (B), β1 corresponds to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the value of the valence of X³. In the case where X³ is a single bond, β1 is 1.

X³ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X³ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, and β1 is 1 to 3.

In another embodiment, X³ is a divalent organic group, and β1 is 1. In such a case, formula (B) is represented by the following formula (B′).

R¹⁴ _(3-n1)R¹³ _(n1)Si—X³—PFPE-X³—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)   (B′)

Examples of X³ are not limited, and include the same as described with respect to X¹.

In particular, preferable specific examples of X³ include

-   a single bond, -   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂) )₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂O F₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂(CH₂)₇CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   (CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   (CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CO—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)—(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)—(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —S—(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —C(O)O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —C(O)O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH(CH₃)—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, and -   —OCFHCF₂—

In particular, X³ is preferably

-   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, -   —OCFHCF₂—.

In particular, X³ is more preferably

-   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—.

In another preferable embodiment, X³ represents X^(e′) X^(e′) has the same meaning as described above.

In one embodiment, X^(e′) is a single bond. In the present embodiment, PFPE and a group having a binding ability to the base material (namely, group in parentheses with β1 in (B)) are directly bonded.

In one embodiment, at least two Si each bonding to the hydroxyl group or the hydrolyzable group are present in formula (B). That is, at least two SiR¹³ moieties are present in formula (B).

A preferable compound represented by formula (B) is a compound represented by the following formula (B′):

R¹⁴ _(3-n1)R¹³ _(n1)Si—X³—PFPE-X³—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)   (B′)

wherein:

each PFPE, at each occurrence, is independently a group represented by formula:

—(OC₆F₁₂)_(a)—(OC₅F₁₀)_(b)—(OC₄F₈)_(c)—(OC₃F₆)_(d)—(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—

wherein a, b, c, d, e and f are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 200 or less, the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is at least 1, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with a, b, c, d, e or f is not limited in the formula;

each R¹³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group;

each R¹⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms;

-   -   R^(13″), R^(14″) have the same meanings as R¹³, R¹⁴,         respectively;

n1 is an integer of 1 to 3, preferably 3; and

X³ is —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, —CH₂O(CH₂)₃— or —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—.

Such any compound represented by formula (B) can be produced by a known method, for example, a method described in JP 2013-117012 A, or an improved method thereof.

Formula (C):

(R^(c) _(m1)R^(b) _(B)R^(a) _(k1)Si)_(γ1)—X⁵—PFPE-X⁵—(SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) _(B)R^(c″) _(m1))_(γ1)   (C)

In formula (C), PFPE has the same meaning as described above.

In the formula, each X⁵ independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group. X⁵ is understood to be a linker which links a perfluoropolyether moiety (namely, —PFPE- moiety) mainly providing water-repellency, surface lubricity, and the like, and a silane moiety (specifically, —SiR^(a) _(k1)R^(b) ₁₁R^(c) _(m1) group or —SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) ₁₁R^(c″) _(m1) group) providing a binding ability to the base material, in any compound represented by formula (C). Accordingly, X⁵ may be a single bond or any organic group as long as such any compound represented by formula (C) can be stably present. Herein, a left portion and a right portion of the structure designated as X⁵ are bonding to the group represented by PFPE and the group in parentheses with γ1, respectively.

In another embodiment, X⁵ represents X^(e). X^(e) has the same meaning as described above.

In the formula, γ1 is an integer of 1 to 9, and γ1 may be varied depending on the valence of X⁵. In formula (C), γ1 corresponds to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the value of the valence of X⁵. In the case where X⁵ is a single bond, γ1 is 1.

X⁵ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X⁵ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, and γ1 is 1 to 3.

In another embodiment, X⁵ is a divalent organic group, and γ1 is 1. Its such a case, formula (C) is represented by the following formula (C′).

R^(c) _(m1)R^(b) _(B)R^(a) _(k1)Si—X⁵—PFPE-X⁵—SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) ₁₁R^(c″) _(m1)   (C′)

Examples of X⁵ are not limited, and include the same as described with respect to X¹.

In particular, preferable specific examples of X⁶ include

-   a single bond, -   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂C(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₂)₂O(Si(CH₂)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂(CH₂)₇CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CO—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —S—(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₂)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₂)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —C(O)O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —C(O)O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH(CH₃)—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, and -   —OCFHCF₂—

In particular, X⁵ is preferably

-   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O) NH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O) NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)—(CH₂)—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CCN(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, -   —OCFHCF₂—.

In particular, X⁵ is more preferably

-   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O) NH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON (Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH (CH₂)₃—.

In another preferable embodiment, X⁵ represents X^(e′). X^(e′) has the same meaning as described above.

In one embodiment, X^(a′) is a single bond. In the present embodiment, PFPE and a group having a binding ability to the base material (namely, group in parentheses with γ1 in formula (C)) are directly bonded.

In the formula, each R^(a), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1).

In the formula, each Z³, at each occurrence, independently represents an oxygen atom or a divalent organic group.

Z³ is preferably a divalent organic group, and does not encompass any group which i.s taken together with a Si atom at an end of a molecular backbone in formula (C) (Si atom to which R^(a) is bonded) to form a siloxane bond.

Z³ is preferably a C₁₋₆ alkylene group, —(CH₂)_(g)—O—(CH₂)_(h)—, wherein g is an integer of 1 to 6, h is an integer of 1 to 6), or -phenylene-(CH₂) _(i)—, wherein i is an integer of 0 to 6), more preferably a C₁₋₃ alkylene group. Such a group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from, for example, a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₆ alkyl group, a C₂₋₆ alkenyl group and a C₂₋₆ alkynyl group. Z³ is more preferably a linear or branched alkylene group, further preferably a linear alkylene group from the viewpoint of particularly favorable ultraviolet durability. The number of carbon atoms constituting the alkylene group of Z³ is preferably in the range from 1 to 6, more preferably in the range from 1 to 3. The alkylene group is as described above.

In the formulae, each R⁷¹, at each occurrence, independently represents R^(a′). R^(a′) has the same meaning as R^(a).

The number of Si linearly linked via a Z³ group is at most 5 in R^(a). That is, in the case where at least, one R⁷¹ is present in R^(a), two or more Si atoms linearly linked via a Z³ group are present in R^(a), and the number of such Si atoms linearly linked via a Z³ group is at most 5. Herein, the “number of Si atoms linearly linked via a Z³ group in R^(a)” is equal to the number of repeatings of —Z³—Si— linearly linked in R^(a).

One example is represented below, where Si atoms are linked via a Z³ group in R^(a).

In the formula, “*” means a site bonded to Si of a main chain, and “ . . . ” means that a predetermined group other than Z³Si is bonded, namely, “ . . . ” means a position at which repeating of Z³ Si is terminated in the case where all three bonds of a Si atom are “ . . . ”. The superscript number in Si means the number of occurrence of Si linearly linked via a Z³ group when counted from “*”. That is, a chain where repeating of Z³Si is terminated at Si² is a chain where the “number of Si atoms linearly linked via a Z³ group in R^(a)” is 2, and similarly, chains where repeating of Z³Si is terminated at Si³, Si⁴ and Si⁵ mean chains where the “number of Si atoms linearity linked via a Z³ group in R^(a)” is 3, 4 and 5, respectively. As clear from the formula, a plurality of Z³Si chains are present in R^(a), and all the chains do not necessarily have the same length, and, for example, may each have any length.

In a preferable embodiment, the “number of Si atoms linearly linked via a Z³ group in R^(a)” is 1 (left formula) or 2 (right formula) in all chains, as represented below

In one embodiment, the number of Si atoms linearly linked via a Z³ group in R^(a) is 1 or 2, preferably 1.

In the formulae, each R⁷², at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group. The “hydrolyzable group” has the same meaning as described above.

Preferably, R⁷² is —OR, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted C₁₋₃ alkyl group, more preferably a methyl group.

In the formulae, each R⁷³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, further preferably a methyl group.

In the formulae, each p1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each q1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; and each r1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3, provided that the sum of p1, q1 and r1 with respect to (—Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1)) is 3.

In a preferable embodiment, q1 in R^(a40) at an end of R^(a) (R^(a) in the case where no R^(a′) is present) is preferably 2 or more, for example, 2 or 3, more preferably 3.

In a preferable embodiment, at least one end of R^(a) can be —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₂R⁷² _(q1′)R⁷³ _(r1′) (provided that either one of q1′ and r1′ is 1 and the other is 0) or —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃, preferably —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃ (wherein the total of q1 and r1 is 3). In the formula, a (—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1)) unit is preferably (—Z³—SiR⁷² ₃). In a further preferable embodiment, all ends of R^(a) can be —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃, preferably —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₃.

In a preferable embodiment, an end of a group represented by (SiR^(a) _(k1)R^(b) _(l1)R^(c) _(m1)) can be —S(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₂R^(b) _(l1)R_(m1) (provided that any one of l1 and m1 is 1 and the other is 0), —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₂R⁷² _(q1′)R⁷³ _(t1′) (provided that any one of q1* and r1* is 1 and the other is 0), or —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃, preferably —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃ (wherein the total of q1 and r1 is 3). More preferably, an end of a group represented by (SiR^(a) _(k1)R^(b) _(l1)R^(c) _(m1)) is —Si(—Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₃.

In the formulae, each R^(a″), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1). Z³, R⁷¹, R⁷³, p1, q1 and r1 have the same meanings as described above. R^(72″) has the same meaning as R⁷².

In a preferable embodiment, at least one end of R^(a″) can be —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₂R^(72″) _(q1′)R⁷³ _(r1), (provided that either one of q1′ and r1′ is 1 and the other is 0), or —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃, preferably —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃ (wherein the total of q1 and r1 is 3). In the formula, a (—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1)) unit is preferably (—Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃). In a further preferable embodiment, all ends of R^(a) can be —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃, preferably —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃)₃.

In a preferable embodiment, an end of a group represented by (SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1)) can be —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₂R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1) (provided that any one of l1 and m1 is 1 and the other is 0), —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₂R^(72″) _(q1′)R⁷³ _(r1′) (provided that any one of q1′ and r1′ is 1 and the other is 0), or —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃ 3, preferably —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1))₃ (wherein the total of q1 and r1 is 3). More preferably, an end of a group represented by (SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1)) is —Si(—Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃)₃.

At least two Si atoms each bonding to the hydroxyl group or the hydrolyzable group are present in formula (C). That, is, at least two structures selected from the group consisting of SiR⁷² (specifically, a group represented by —SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1), provided that q1 is an integer of 1 to 3), SiR^(72″) (specifically, a group represented by —SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1), provided that q1 is an integer of 1 to 3), SiR^(b) (specifically, a group represented by —SiR^(a) _(k1)R^(b) _(l1)R^(c) _(m1), provided that l1 is an integer of 1 to 3) and SiR^(b″) (specifically, a group represented by —SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1), provided that l1 is an integer of 1 to 3) are present. R⁶ and R^(b″) are described below.

More preferably, at least one Si bonding to the hydroxyl group or the hydrolyzable group is present at each of both ends of a molecular backbone of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A), in formula (C). That is, at least one SiR⁷² and/or SiR^(b) structure is present, and at least one SiR^(72″) and/or SiR^(b″) structure is present.

In the formulae, each R^(b), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group.

R^(b) preferably represents a hydroxyl group, —OR, —OCOR, —O—N═C(R)₂, —N(R)₂, —NHR, or halogen, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R^(b) more preferably represents —OR. Examples of R include unsubstituted alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a n-butyl group and an isobutyl group; and substituted alkyl groups such as a chloromethyl group. Among them, an alkyl group, in particular, an unsubstituted alkyl group is preferable, and a methyl group or an ethyl group is more preferable. The hydroxyl group is not limited, and, may be generated by hydrolyzing the hydrolyzable group. More preferably, R^(b) represents —OR, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted C₁₋₃ alkyl group, more preferably a methyl group.

In the formulae, R^(b″) has the same meaning as R^(b).

In the formulae, each R^(c), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, further preferably a methyl group.

In the formulae, R^(c″) has the same meaning as R^(c).

In the formulae, each k1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each l1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; and each m1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3, provided that the sum of k1, l1 and m1 with respect to (SiR^(a) _(k1)R^(b) _(l1)R^(c) _(m1)) or with respect to (SiR^(a″) _(k1)R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1)) is 3.

In one embodiment, k1 is preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 3.

Such any compound represented by formula (C) can be synthesized as described in WO 2014/069592.

Formula (D):

(R^(f) _(m2)R^(e) _(l2)R^(d) _(k2)C)_(δ1)—X⁷PFPE-X⁷—(CR^(d″) _(k2)R^(e″) _(l2)R^(f″) _(m2))_(δ1)   (D)

In formula (D), PFPE has the same meaning as described with respect to formula (A).

In the formula, each X⁷ independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group. X⁷ is understood to be a linker which links a perfluoropolyether moiety (namely, —PFPE- moiety) mainly providing water-repellency, surface lubricity, and the like, and a moiety (namely, group in parentheses with δ1) providing a binding ability to the base material, in any compound represented by formula (D). Accordingly, X⁷ may be a single bond or any organic group as long as such any compound represented by formula (D) can be stably present. Herein, a left portion and a right, portion of the structure designated as X⁷ are bonding to the group represented by PFPE and the group in parentheses with δ1, respectively.

In another embodiment, X⁷ represents X^(e). X^(e) has the same meaning as described above.

In the formulae, δ1 is an integer of 1 to 9, and δ1 may be varied depending on the valence of X⁷. In formula (D), δ1 corresponds to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the valence of X⁷. In the case where X⁷ is a single bond, δ1 is 1.

X⁷ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X⁷ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, and δ1 is 1 to 3.

In another embodiment, X⁷ is a divalent organic group, and δ1 is 1. In such a case, formula (D) is represented by the following formula (D′):

R^(f) _(m2)R^(e) _(l2)R^(d) _(k2)C—X⁷—PFPE-X⁷—CR^(d″) _(k2)R^(e″) _(l2)R^(f″) _(m2)   (D′)

Examples of X⁷ are not limited, and include the same as described with respect to X¹.

In particular, preferable specific examples of X⁷ include

-   a single bond, -   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂(CH₂)₇CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi(OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₃)₂OSi (OCH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OCH₂CH₃)₂OSi(OCH₂CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CO—, -   ——CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —S—(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₂S(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₃Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₂)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₁₀Si(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃Si(CH₃)₂O(Si(CH₃)₂O)₂OSi(CH₃)₂(CH₂)₂—, -   —C(O) O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —C(O)O—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH (CH₃)—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—Si(CH₃)₂—(CH₂)₂—Si(CH₃)₂—CH(CH₃)—CH₂—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, and

In particular, specific X⁷ is more preferably

-   —CH₂OCH₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—, -   —CH₂O(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—O—(CH₂)₆—, -   CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CF₂CF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCH₂CHFCF₂OCF(CF₃)CF₂OCF₂CF₂CF₂—, -   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CH₂—, -   —(CH₂)₂—, -   —(CH₂)₃—, -   —(CH₂)₄—, -   —(CH₂)₅—, -   —(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—, -   —(CF₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₄—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₅—, -   —CF₂—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆,—wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON (Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CH₂O—CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —OCH₂—, -   —O(CH₂)₃—, -   —OCFHCF₂—.

In particular, X⁷ is more preferably

-   —CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CF₂—CH₂OCF₂CHFOCF₂CF₂CF₂—C(O)NH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—, -   —CONH—CH₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂CONH—, -   —CF₂CONHCH₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₂—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂CONH(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON(CH₃)—(CH₂)₃—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₃—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CF₂—CON (CH₃)—(CH₂)₆—, -   —CF₂—CON(Ph)-(CH₂)₆—, wherein Ph means phenyl, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₃—, -   —CONH—(CH₂)₆NH(CH₃)₃—.

In one embodiment, X⁷ represents X^(e′). X^(e′) has the the meaning as described above.

In one embodiment, X^(e′) is a single bond. In the present embodiment, PFPE and a group having a binding ability to the base material (namely, group in parentheses with δ1 in formula (D)) are directly bonded. It is considered that such a structure is included to thereby strengthen a bonding force between PFPE and the group in parentheses with δ1. It is also considered that a carbon atom (namely, in the group in parentheses with δ^(1,) a carbon atom bonding to R^(d), R^(e) and R^(f) or a carbon atom bonding to R^(d″), R^(e″) and R^(f″)) directly bonding to PFPE is less biased in charge and, as a result, a nucleophilic reaction or the like hardly occurs at the carbon atom and the compound is stably bonding to the base material. Such a structure has the advantage of being capable of more enhancing friction durability of a layer formed by the PFPE-containing silane compound.

In the formulae, each R^(d), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R⁸² _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2).

In the formulae, each Z⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents an oxygen atom or a divalent organic group.

Z⁴ is preferably a C₁₋₆ alkylene group, —(CH₂)_(g)—O—(CH₂)_(h)—, wherein g is an integer of 0 to 6, for example, an integer of 1 to 6, and h is an integer of 0 to 6, for example, an integer of 1 to 6, or -phenylene-(CH₂)_(i)—, wherein i is an integer of 0 to 6, more preferably a C₁₋₃ alkylene group. Such a group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from, for example, a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₆ alkyl group, a C₂₋₆ alkenyl group and a C₂₋₆ alkynyl group.

In the formulae, each R⁸¹, at each occurrence, independently represents R^(d′). R^(d′) has the same meaning as R^(d).

The number of C linearly linked via a Z⁴ group is at most 5 in R^(d). That is, in the case where at least one R⁸¹ is present in R^(d), two or more C atoms linearly linked via a Z⁴ group are present in R^(d), and the number of such C atoms linearly linked via a Z⁴ group is at most 5. Herein, the “number of C atoms linearly linked via a Z⁴ group in R^(d)” is equal to the number of repeating units of —Z⁴—C— linearly linked in R^(d).

In a preferable embodiment, the “number of C atoms linearly linked via a Z⁴ group in R^(d)” is 1 (left formula) or 2 (right formula) in all chains, as represented below.

In one embodiment, the number of C atoms linearly linked via a Z⁴ group in is 1 or 2, preferably 1.

In the formulae, each R⁸², at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2).

Each Y, at each occurrence, independently represents a divalent organic group.

In a preferable embodiment, Y is a C₁₋₆ alkylene group, —(CH₂)_(g′)—O—(CH₂)_(h′)—, wherein g′ is an integer of 0 to 6, for example, an integer of 1 to 6, and h′ is an integer of 0 to 6, for example, an integer of 1 to 6, or -phenylene-(CH₂)_(i′)—, wherein i′ is an integer of 0 to 6. Such a group is optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from, for example, a fluorine atom, a C₁₋₆ alkyl group, a C₂₋₆ alkenyl group and a C₂₋₆ alkynyl group.

In one embodiment, Y can be a C₁₋₆ alkylene group or -phenylene-(CH₂)_(i′)—. In the case where Y is any of the above groups, light resistance, in particular, ultraviolet resistance can be more enhanced.

Each R⁸⁶, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group.

Examples of the “hydrolyzable group” include the same as in formula (C).

Preferably, R⁸⁵ is —OR, wherein R represents a substituted or unsubstituted C₁₋₃ alkyl group, more preferably an ethyl group or a methyl group, in particular, a methyl group.

Each R⁸⁶, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, further preferably a methyl group.

n2 with respect to a (—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2)) unit or with respect to a (—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2)) unit independently represents an integer of 0 to 3, preferably an integer of 1 to 3, more preferably 2 or 3, particularly preferably 3. R^(85″) and R^(86″) are described below.

Each R⁸³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a lower alkyl group, preferably a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, further preferably a methyl group.

In the formulae, each p2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each q2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; and each r2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3, provided that the sum of p2, q2 and r2 with respect to (—Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R⁸² _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2)) or with respect to (—Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R^(82″) _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2)) is 3. R^(82″) is described below.

In a preferable embodiment, in R^(d′) at an end of R^(d) (R^(d) in the case where no R^(d′) is present), q2 is preferably 2 or more, for example, 2 or 3, more preferably 3.

In a preferable embodiment, at least one end of R^(d) can be —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₂ (specifically, —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₂R⁸³) or —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃, preferably —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃. Here, n2 is an integer of 1 to 3. In the formulae, a (—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2)) unit is preferably (—Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃). In a further preferable embodiment, all ends of R^(d) can be each —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃, preferably —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃)₃.

In a more preferable embodiment, an end of a group represented by (CR^(d) _(k2)R^(e) ₁₂R^(f) _(m2)) is C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₂R^(f)), C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₂R⁷³ or C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃, preferably C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃. Here, n2 is an integer of 1 to 3. In the formulae, a (—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2)) unit is preferably (—Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃). In a further preferable embodiment, all ends of the group can be each —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃, preferably —C(—Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃)₃.

In the formulae, each R^(d41) , at each occurrence, independently represents —Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R^(82″) _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2). Z⁴, R⁸¹, R⁸³, p2, q2 and r2 have the same meanings as described above. Each R^(82″), at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2). Here, Y and n2 have the same meanings as described above. R^(85″) and R^(86″) have the same meanings as R⁸⁵ and R⁸⁶, respectively.

In a preferable embodiment, in R^(d′) at an end of R^(d″) (R^(d″) in the case where no R^(d′) is present), q2 is preferably 2 or more, for example, 2 or 3, more preferably 3.

In a preferable embodiment, at least one end of R^(d″) can be —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₂ (specifically, —CR⁸¹ _(P2)(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₂R⁸³) or —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃, preferably —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃. Here, n2 is an integer of 1 to 3. In the formulae, a (—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2)) unit is preferably (—Y—SiR^(85″) ₃). In a further preferable embodiment, all ends of R^(d) can be each —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃, preferably —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) ₃)₃.

In a more preferable embodiment, an end of a group represented by (CR^(d″) _(k2)R^(e″) _(l2)R^(f″) _(m2)) is C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₂R^(f), C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₂R⁸³ or C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃, preferably C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃. Here, n2 is an integer of 1 to 3. In the formulae, a (—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2)) unit is preferably (—Y—SiR⁸⁵⁻ ₃). In a further preferable embodiment, all ends of the group can be each —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃, preferably —C(—Y—SiR^(85″) ₃)₃.

In the formulae, each R^(e), at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2). Here, Y, R⁸⁵, R⁸⁶ and n2 have the same meanings as described in R⁸².

In the formulae, each R^(e″), at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2). Here, R^(85″), R^(86″), Y, and n2 have the same meanings as described above.

In the formulae, each R^(f), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a lower alkyl group. Preferably, each R^(f), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. The lower alkyl group is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, more preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, further preferably a methyl group.

In the formulae, R^(f″) has the same meaning as R^(f).

In the formulae, each k2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each 12, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; and each m2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3, provided that the sum of k2, l2 and m2 is 3.

In one embodiment, at least one k2 is 2 or 3, preferably 3.

In one embodiment, k2 is 2 or 3, preferably 3.

In one embodiment, l2 is 2 or 3, preferably 3.

In formula (D), two or more groups selected from the group consisting of a group represented by —Y—SiR⁸⁵ and a group represented by —Y—SiR^(85″) are present. In formula (D), preferably, one or more groups represented by —Y—SiR⁸⁵ and one or mere groups represented by —Y—SiR^(85″) are present. More preferably, one or more carbon atoms bonding to two or more groups each represented by —Y—SiR⁸⁵ are present, and one or more carbon atoms bonding to two or more groups each represented by —Y—SiR^(85″) are present. That is, one or more groups selected from a group represented by —C—R^(d) _(k2)(Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))_(l2)R^(f) _(m2) (provided that l2 is 2 or 3 and the total of k2, l2 and m2 is 3) and a group represented by —C—R⁸¹ _(p2)(Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))_(q2)R⁸³ _(r2) (provided that q2 is 2 or 3 and the total of p2, q2 and r2 is 3), and one or more groups selected from a group represented by —C—R^(d) _(k2)(Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))_(l2)R^(f) _(m2) (provided that l2 is 2 or 3 and the total of k2, l2 and m2 is 3) and a group represented by —C—R⁸¹ _(p2)(Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))_(q2)R⁸³ _(r2) (provided that q2 is 2 or 3 and the total of p2, q2 and r2 is 3), wherein n2 is an integer of 1 to 3, are preferably present in formula (D).

In one embodiment, one or more groups represented by —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₂ and one or more groups represented by —C—(Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2), wherein n2 is an integer of 1 to 3, are preferably present in formula (D).

In one embodiment, one or more groups represented by —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2))₃ and one or more groups represented by —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵⁻ _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2))₃, wherein n2 is an integer of 1 to 3, are preferably present in formula (D).

In formula (D), n2 is an integer of 1 to 3 and at least one g2 is 2 or 3, or at least one l2 is 2 or 3.

In formula (D), at least two of —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2) group and —Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2) group are preferably present. In formula (D), one or more —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2) groups and one or more —Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2) groups are more preferably present. That is, a group represented by —SiR⁸⁵ and a group represented by —SiR^(85″) are preferably present at both respective ends of a molecular backbone of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A).

The compound represented by formula (D) can be produced by combining known methods.

In a preferable embodiment, the PFPE-containing silane compound (A) is represented by formula (B) or (C).

The PFPE-containing silane compound (A) can have a number average molecular weight of 5×10² to 1×10⁵, without any limitation. In particular, the compound preferably has a number average molecular weight of 2,000 to 30,000, more preferably 2,500 to 12,000, further preferably 3,000 to 6,000. In the present invention, the number average molecular weight is defined as a value obtained by ¹⁹F-NMR measurement.

In one embodiment, the PFPE-containing silane compound (A) can be a compound represented by formula (A), (C) or (D). Such a silane compound can be used to thereby allow adhesion properties to the base material to be enhanced.

In another preferable embodiment, on at least one end the PFPE-containing silane compound (A), there is two or more, preferably three or more Si atoms each having a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group.

(Cross-Linking Agent)

The cross-linking agent is not limited as long as the agent is a compound having a portion which can undergo a crosslinking reaction (condensation reaction) with the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A), specifically, a silane moiety having a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group bonding to a Si atom of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A)). The fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)) and the cross-linking agent can be. included, thereby improving physical properties (for example, tensile strength and elastic modulus) of a cured product obtained from the curable composition of the present invention.

The cross-linking agent is an organosilicon compound having at least two —O—R^(g3)(s) each bonding to a Si atom. In the formula, each R^(g3), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group. The monovalent organic group means a carbon atom-containing group. Such a monovalent organic group is not limited, and examples thereof include a group where one hydrogen atom is further removed from a hydrocarbon group. The hydrocarbon group has the same meaning as described above.

The cross-linking agent has a structure different from that of the fluorine-containing silane compound (specifically, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)).

Examples of the cross-linking agent can include

-   an organic compound where R^(g3) is a hydrogen atom, namely, an     organosilicon compound having at least two silanol groups in one     molecule, and -   an organosilicon compound represented by formulae (E3) to (E5)     described below.

Organosilicon compound having at least two silanol groups in one molecule:

Such silanol groups are preferably present at both respective ends of a molecular backbone in the organosilicon compound. The molecular backbone here represents a relatively longest binding chain in a molecule of the organosilicon compound.

Examples of the compound having silanol groups at both respective ends of a molecular backbone can include a compound represented by the following formula (E1) or (E2).

In formula (E1) or (E2), each R^(g1), at each occurrence, is independently a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. Specific examples of R^(g1) include alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a neopentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a nonyl group and a decyl group; cycloalkyl groups such as a cyclopentyl group, a cyclohexyl group and a cycloheptyl group; alkenyl groups such as a vinyl group, an allyl group, a propenyl group, an isopropenyl group, a butenyl group, an isobutenyl group, a hexenyl group and a cyclohexenyl group; aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a tolyl group, a xylyl group and a naphthyl group; aralkyl groups such as a benzyl group, a phenylethyl group and a phenylpropyl group; and groups where some or all hydrogen atoms of such a group are substituted with a halogen atom (for example, a chloromethyl group, a bromoethyl group, a chloropropyl group, a trifluoropropyl group and a nonafluorohexyl group).

In formula (E1) or (E2), each R^(g2), at each occurrence, is independently a substituted or unsubstituted divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, preferably 2 to 10 carbon atoms. Specific examples of R^(g2) include alkylene groups such as a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, a methylethylene group, a butylene group and a hexamethylene group; cycloalkylene groups such as a cyclohexylene group, arylene groups such as a phenylene group, a tolylene group, a xylylene group, a naphthylene group and a biphenylene group; a group where some or all hydrogen atoms of such a group are substituted with a halogen atom; and a combination of such a substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group and an arylene group. Among them, R^(g2) is preferably a methylene group, an ethylene group, a propylene group, a butylene group, a hexamethylene group, a cyclohexylene group or a phenylene group, and is particularly preferably an ethylene group, a propylene group, a butylene group or a phenylene group. Examples of the compound having silanol groups in a molecule include a resin compound including a bond of one unit of R^(g1) ₃SiO_(1/2)R^(g1) ₂SiO, R^(g1)SiO_(3/2), and SiO₂, or a combination of two or more kinds thereof, with a silanol group. Constituent units of the resin compound may be directly bonded or may be bonded via a di- or higher valent hydrocarbon group.

In formula (E1) or (E2), each ε1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 or more, and ε1 is preferably 2 or more, more preferably 5 or more, preferably 50 or less, more preferably 20 or less.

The organosilicon compound having at least two silanol groups in one molecule (specifically, compound represented by formula (E1) or (E2)) preferably has no PFPE structure in a molecular structure.

Any organosilicon compound represented by formula (E3), (E4) or (E5):

In formulae E3) and (E4), R^(g3) has the same meaning as described above. R^(g3) is a portion which can react with a portion having a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group bonding to a Si atom of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A) represented by formula (A), (B), (C) or (D).

R^(g3) is preferably a monovalent organic group.

Each R^(g3)—, at each occurrence, is more preferably independently CH₃—, C₂H₅—, C₃CH₇—, CH₃CO—, CH₂═C(CH₃)—, CH₃CH₂C═CH₃)═N—, (CH₃)₂N—, (C₂H₅)₂N—, CH₂═C(OC₂H₅)—, (CH₃)₂C═C(OC₈H₁₇)—, or

In formulae (E3) and (E4), each R^(g4), at each occurrence, is independently a monovalent organic group. R^(g4) is preferably a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group, more preferably a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Specific examples of R^(g4) can include alkyl groups such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, an isopropyl group, a butyl group, an isobutyl group, a tert-butyl group, a pentyl group, a neopentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group, a nonyl group and a decyl group; cycloalkyl groups such as a eye1opentyl group, a cyclohexyl group and a cycloheptyl group; aryl groups such as a phenyl group, a tolyl group, a xylyl group and a naphthyl group; aralkyl groups such as a benzyl group, a phenylethyl group and a phenylpropyl group; alkenyl groups such as a vinyl group, an allyl group, a propenyl group and a butenyl group; and groups where some or all hydrogen atoms of such a group are substituted with a halogen atom such as fluorine, chlorine or bromine (for example, a chloromethyl group, a bromoethyl group, a chloropropyl group, a trifluoropropyl group and a 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,6-nonafluorohexyl group).

In one embodiment, R^(g4) can be a group represented by the following general formula.

Rf¹—R^(g5)—

In the formulae, Rf¹ is a monovalent fluorinated polyether group. Examples of Rf¹ include one having a structure where CF₃O—, CF₃CF₂O—, CF₃CF₂CF₂O—, (CF₃)₂CFO—, CP₃CF₂CF₂CF₂O— or the like is bonding to a CF₂ end of PFPE above.

R^(g5) is a divalent organic group. The divalent organic group has the same meaning as described above.

R^(g5) can be a substituted or unsubstituted divalent hydrocarbon group, for example, optionally containing one or more of an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, a silicon atom and a sulfur atom, and optionally containing an amide bond or a sulfonamide bond. The divalent hydrocarbon group preferably has 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Specific examples of a substituted or unsubstituted divalent hydrocarbon group not having any oxygen atom, nitrogen atom, silicon atom or sulfur atom interposed and not containing any amide bond or sulfonamide bond include alkylene groups such as an ethylene group, a propylene group, a methylethylene group, a butylene group and a hexamethylene group; cycloalkylone groups such as a cyclohexylene group; arylene groups such as a phenylene group, a tolylene group, a xylylene group, a naphthylene group and a biphenylene group; a combination of any alkylene group and any arylene group; and a group where some or all hydrogen atoms of such alkylene group and arylene group are substituted with a halogen atom.

The divalent hydrocarbon group can contain an oxygen atom in the form of —O—, a nitrogen atom in the form of —NR^(g51)— (R^(g51) is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group or aryl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms) or —N═, a silicon atom in the form of —SiR^(g52)R^(g53)— (R^(g52) and R^(g53), at each occurrence, are each independently an alkyl group or aryl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms), and/or a sulfur atom in the form of —S—. The divalent hydrocarbon group can contain an amide bond In the form of —C(═O)NR^(g51)— (R^(g51) is the same as described above) and/or a sulfonamide bend in the form of —SO₂NR^(g51)— is the same as described above). Specific examples of such a divalent hydrocarbon group include the following. In the following formulae. Me represents a methyl group and Ph represents a phenyl group, and an Rf¹ group is bonding to a left portion of each of the following formulae.

J represents a bonding site.

In formulae (E3) and (E4), and each ε2, at each occurrence, is independently 2 or 3.

In formula (E5), R^(g3) and R^(g4) have the same meanings as described above. In formula (E5), each R^(g6)—, at each occurrence, independently represents R^(g8)—R^(g7)—.

Each R^(g7), at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond an oxygen atom or a divalent organic group. The divalent organic group is as described above.

R^(g7) is preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or a group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and containing a nitrogen atom or an oxygen atom in a main chain.

R^(g7) is more preferably an alkylene group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, CH₂CH₂NH—CH₂CH₂CH₂, or CH₂—O—CH₂CH₂CH₂.

R^(g8) is a reactive functional group. Each R^(g8), at each occurrence, is preferably independently an amino group, an epoxy group, a methacrylic group, a vinyl group or a mercapto group, more preferably an amino group.

In formula E5), ε4 is an Integer of 2 or more, preferably 2 or 3, more preferably 3. In formula (E5), ε5 is an integer of 0 or more, preferably 0 or 1. In formula (E5), ε6 is 1 or 2, preferably 1, provided that the sum of ε4, ε5 and ε6 is 4.

In formula (E5), preferably ε4 is 2 or 3, ε5 is 0 or 1 and ε6 is 1 or 2, more preferably ε4 is 3, ε5 is 0 and ε6 is 1.

Preferably, the cross-linking agent is any compound represented by formula (E3) or formula (E5), more preferably any compound represented by formula (E3).

In one embodiment, the cross-linking agent does not have any group represented by PFFE in a molecular chain.

In one embodiment, the molecular weight of the cross-linking agent is 1000 or less, preferably 600 or less, more preferably 250 or less. The lower limit of the molecular weight of the cross-linking agent may be 50 or more or 100 or more.

In a preferable embodiment, the cross-linking agent is at least one selected from the group consisting of tetraethoxysilane, tetratrimethoyxsilane, methyltriethoxysilane, mthyltrimethoxysilne, dimethyldimethoxysiiane, dimethyltrimethoxysilane, aminoropyltriethoxysilane, amnopropyltrimethoxysilane, tridecafluoro-n-octyltriethoxysilane and tridecafluoro-n-octyltrimethoxysilane.

The cross-linking agent may be used singly or in combinations of two or more kinds thereof.

The curable composition of the present invention can include, for example, 0.1 parts by mass or more, specifically 0.3 parts by mass or more, and 30 parts by mass or less, specifically 10 parts by mass or less of the cross-linking agent based on 100 parts by mass of the PFPE-containing silane compound (a).

The curable composition of the present invention can include, for example, 0.1 to 30 parts by mass, specifically 0.3 to 10 parts by mass of the cross-linking agent based on 100 parts by mass of the PFPE-containing silane compound (A).

The curable composition of the present invention more preferably includes the cross-linking agent in the range from 0.01 to 30 parts by mass, more preferably in the range from 0.1 to 10.0 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the curable composition of the present invention.

(Metal-Based Catalyst)

The metal-based catalyst is represented by M (—O—R^(h))_(η), wherein M represents a metal atom, each R^(h), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and η is the coordination number of M. Such a metal-based catalyst is used to thereby promote a condensation reaction of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)) and the cross-linking agent. Such a metal-based catalyst can be easily dissolved or dispersed in the curable composition and can contribute to promotion of a reaction uniformly. The curable composition of the present invention, which includes such a metal-based catalyst, can include less foreign substances and can contribute to formation of a cured product of the curable composition, having high transparency.

M is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and tin.

In a preferable embodiment, M is a titanium atom or a zirconium atom. The curable composition of the present invention contains such a metal atom as M and thus can be particularly suitable in an electronic material application (for example, semiconductor application or information terminal) or an automobile application. The curable composition of the present invention contains such a metal atom and thus can be reduced in environmental load.

R^(h) is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms is, namely, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a n-propyl group or an i-propyl group.

η is the coordination number of the metal atom M. η is preferably an integer of 1 to 8. For example, in the case where M is a titanium atom or a zirconium atom, η is 4.

Examples of a preferable metal-based catalyst can include at least one selected from the group consisting of tetrapropyl titanate and tetrapropyl zirconate. Examples of the tetrapropyl titanate can include tetraisopropyl titanate (tetraisopropaxy titanium) and tetra-n-propyl titanate, and examples of the tetrapropyl zirconate can include tetraisopropyl zirconia and tetra-n-propyl zirconate. Such a metal-based catalyst is particularly easily dissolved or dispersed in the curable composition and can contribute to promotion of a reaction uniformly. The curable composition, which includes such a metal-based catalyst, car. include less foreign substances and can contribute to formation of a cured product of the curable composition, having high transparency.

The curable composition of the present invention preferably includes 0.06 parts by mass or more, more preferably 0.07 parts by mass or more of the metal-based catalyst based on 100 parts by mass of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)). The curable composition cf the present invention preferably includes 5.0 parts by mass or less, more preferably 1.0 part by mass or less of the metal-based catalyst based on 100 parts by mass of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)). The curable composition includes the concentration of the metal.-based catalyst, thereby allowing a condensation reaction of the fluorine-containing silane compound and the cross-linking agent to be particularly promoted.

The curable composition of the present invention preferably includes 0.05 to 5.0 parts by mass, more preferably 0.07 to 1.0 parts by mass of the metal-based catalyst, based on 100 parts by mass of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)).

The metal-based catalyst nay be used singly or simultaneously in combination of two or mere kinds thereof.

(Solvent)

The curable composition of the present invention may include a solvent. In such a case, the curable composition can be used, with being dissolved in a proper solvent (for example, a fluorine atom-containing solvent) so as to have a desired concentration depending on the application and the intended use. The concentration of the solvent may be, for example, 80 parts by mass or less, 50 parts by mass or less, 40 parts by mass or less, 30 parts by mass or less, 20 parts by mass or less based on 100 parts by mass of the curable composition.

Examples of the solvent include:

a fluorine atom-containing solvent selected from the group consisting of perfluorohexane, CF₃CF₂CHCl₂, CF₃CH₂CF₂CH₃, CF₄CHFCHFC₂F₅, 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-tridecafluorooctane, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4-heptaflucrocyclopentane ((Zeorora H (trade name) or the like), C₄F₉OCH₃, C₄F₉OC₂H₅, CF₃CH₂OCF₂CHF₂, C₆F₁₃CH═H₂, xylene hexafluoride, perfluorobenzene, methylpentadecafluoroheptylketone, trifluoroethanol, pentafluoropropanol, hexafluoroisopropanol, HCF₂CF₂CH₂OH, methyltrifluoromethanesulfonate, trlfluoroacetic acid, CH₃O(CF₂CF₂O)_(m1)(CF₂O)_(n1)CF₂CF₃, wherein m1 and n1 are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 1000 or less and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with m1 or n1 is not limited in the formula, provided that the sum of m1 and n1 is 1 or more, 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene, 1,2-dichioro-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propene, 1,2-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene, 1,1-dichloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene, 1,1,2-trichloro-3,3,3-trifluoro-1-propene, 1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene, ethyl perfluorobutyl ether and methyl perfluorobutyl ether. Such a solvent may be used singly or as a mixture of two or more kinds thereof.

Herein, various printers can also be used in combination in the case where the cured product obtained from the curable composition of the present invention is allowed to adhere to various base materials.

In one embodiment, the curable composition of the present invention, when used, may be further diluted with a solvent and thus used, depending on the application and the intended use. Any of the fluorine-based solvents exemplified above can be used as the solvent for use in the dilution. For example, the composition may be used, with being dissolved in a solvent such as 1,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene, Fluorinert (manufactured by 3M), perfluorobutyl methyl ether or perfluorobutyl ethyl ether so that a desired concentration is achieved. In particular, the solvent is preferably used in the application of thin film coating.

The curable composition of the present invention can further include any compound represented by the following formula (A1), (B1), (C1) or (D1).

Any portion of the descriptions of formulae (A1), (B1), (C1) and (D1), overlapped with those of (A), (B), (C) and (D), will be omitted.

In the formulae, Rf, at each occurrence, independently represents an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms.

The “alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms” with respect to the alkyl group having i to 16 carbon atoms, the group being optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, is optionally linear or branched, is preferably a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, particularly 1 to 3 carbon atoms, more preferably a linear alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Rf is preferably an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, the group being optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms, more preferably a CF₂H—C₁₋₁₅ fluoroalkylene group or a C₁₋₁₅ perfluoroalkyl group, further preferably a C₁₋₁₆ perfluoroalkyl group.

The perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms may be linear or branched, and is preferably a linear or branched perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, in particular, 1 to 3 carbon atoms, more preferably a linear perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, specifically —CF₃, —CF₂CF₃, or —CF₂CF₂CF₃.

In formula (A1), α1 is an integer of 1 to 9 and α1′ is an integer of 1 to 9. Here, α1′ may be varied depending on the valence of X¹. In formula (A1), the sum of α1 and α1′ is the same as the valence of X¹. For example, in the case where X¹ is a decavalent organic group, the sum of α1 and α1′ can be 10, for example, α1 can be 9 and α1′ can be 1, α1 can be 5 and α1′ can be 5, or α1 can be 1 and α1′ can be 9. In the case where X¹ is a divalent organic group, α1 and α1′ are 1. In the case where X¹ is a single bond, α1 and α1′ are 1.

X¹ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X¹ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, α1 is 1 to 3, and α1′ is 1.

In another embodiment, X¹ is a divalent organic group, α1 is 1, and α1′ is 1.

In formula (A1), n1′ with respect to a (—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1′)) unit is independently an integer of 0 to 3, preferably 1 to 3, more preferably 3. In the formula, at least one n1′ is an integer of 1 to 3, namely, there is not any case where all n1′(s) are simultaneously 0. In other words, at least one R¹³ is present in formula (A1).

In formula (B1), β1 is an integer of 1 to 9 and β1′ is an integer of 1 to 9. Such β1 and β1′ may be varied depending on the valence of X³. In formula (B1), the sum of β1 and β1′ is the same as the valence of, X³. For example, in the case where X³ is a decavalent organic group, the sum of β1 and β1′ can be 10, for example, β1 can be 9 and β′1 can be 1, β1 can be 5 and β1′ can be 5, or β1 can be 1 and β′ can be 9. In the case where X³ is a divalent organic group, β1 and β1′ are 1. In the case where X³ is a single bond, β1 and β′1 are 1.

X³ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X³ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, β1 is 1 to 3, and β1′ is 1.

In another embodiment, X³ is a divalent organic group, β1 is 1, and β1′ is 1.

In formula (B1), n1′ has the same meaning as described with respect to (A1).

In formula (C1), γ1 is an integer of 1 to 9 and γ1′ is an integer of 1 to 9. Such γ1 and γ1′ may be varied depending on the valence of X⁵. In formula (C1), the sum of γ1 and γ1′ is the same as the valence of X⁵. For example, in the case where X⁵ is a decavalent organic group, the sum of γ1 and γ1′ can be 10, for example, γ1 can be 9 and γ1′ can be 1, γ1 can be 5 and γ1′ can be 5, or γ1 can be 1 and γ1′ can be 9. In the case where X⁵ is a divalent organic group, γ1 and γ1′ are 1. In the case where X⁵ is a single bend, γ1 and γ′1 are 1.

X⁵ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X⁵ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, γ1 is 1 to 3, and γ1′ is 1.

In another embodiment, X⁵ is a divalent organic group, γ1 is 1, and γ1′ is 1.

In formula (D1), δ1 is an integer of 1 to 9 and δ1′ is an integer of 1 to 9. Such δ1 and δ1′ may be varied depending on the valence of X⁷. In formula (D1), the sum of δ1 and δ1′ is the same as the valence of X⁷. For example, in the case where X⁷ is a decavalent organic group, the sum of δ1 and δ1′ can be 10, for example, δ1 can be 9 and δ1′ can be 1, δ1 can be 5 and δ1′ can be 5, or δ1 can be 1 and δ1′ can be 9. In the case where X⁷ is a divalent organic group, δ1 and δ1′ are 1. In the case where X⁷ is a single bond, δ1 and δ′1 are 1.

X⁷ is preferably a di- to heptavalent, more preferably di- to tetravalent, further preferably divalent organic group.

In one embodiment, X⁷ is a di- to tetravalent organic group, δ1 is 1 to 3, and δ1′ is 1.

In another embodiment, X⁷ is a divalent organic group, δ1 is 1, and δ1′ is 1.

In one embodiment, the compound represented by formula (A1), (B1), (C1) or (D1) is preferably a compound represented by formula (A1), (C1) or (D1). Such a silane compound can be used to thereby allow adhesion properties to the base material to be enhanced.

In one embodiment, the curable composition of the present invention includes 0.1% by mol or more and 35% by mol or less of any compound represented by formulae (A1), (B1), (C1) and (D1) based on the total of any compound represented by formulae (A), (5), (C) and (D) (hereinafter, also referred to as “component (1)”) and any compound represented by formulae (A1), (B1), (C1) and (D1) (hereinafter, also referred to as “component (2)”). The lower limit of the content, of any compound represented by formulae (A1) (B1), (C1) and (D1) based on the total of the component (1) and the component (2) can be preferably 0.1% by mol, more preferably 0.2% by mol, further preferably 0.5% by mol, still more preferably 1% by mol, particularly preferably 2% by mol, particularly 5% by mol. The upper limit of the content of any compound represented by formulae (A1), (B1), (C1) and (D1) based on the total of the component (1) and the component (2) can be preferably 35% by mol, more preferably 30% by mol, further preferably 20% by mol, still more preferably 15% by mol or 10% by mol. Any compound represented by formulae (A1), (B1), (C1) and (D1) based on the total of the component (1) and the component (2) is preferably 0.1% by mol or more and 30% by mol or less, more preferably 0.1% by mol or more and 20% by mol or less, further preferably 0.2% by mol or more and 10% by mol or less, still more preferably 0.5% by mol or more and 10% by mol or less, particularly preferably 1% by mol or more and 10% by mol or less, for example, 2% by mol or more and 10% by mol or less or 5% by mol or more and 10% by mol or less. The component (1) and the component (2) can be included in such a range, thereby allowing the curable composition of the present invention to contribute to formation of a cured product favorable in friction durability.

The combination of the component (1) and the component (2) in the curable composition is preferably a combination of a compound represented by formula (A) and a compound represented by formula (A1), a combination of a compound represented by formula (B) and a compound represented by formula (B1), a combination of a compound represented by formula (C) and a compound represented by formula (C1), or a combination of a compound represented by formula (D) and a compound represented by formula (D1).

In such any compound represented by formula (A) and formula (A1), t is preferably 2 or more, more preferably an integer of 2 to 10, further preferably an integer of 2 to 6. Here, t can be 2 or more, thereby allowing a plurality of Si atoms each having R¹³ or R^(13″) to be present and allowing a cured product formed from the curable composition of the present invention to achieve higher durability (for example, friction durability).

In such any compound represented by formula (C) and formula (C1), k1 is preferably 2 or 3, more preferably 3.

In a preferable embodiment, the compound represented by formula (C) has a structure represented by —Si—(Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₂, —Si—(Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃)₂, —Si—(Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)3 or —Si—(Z³—SiR1 ^(72″) ₃)₃, further preferably has a structure represented by —Si—(Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₃ or —Si—(Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃)₃ at an end; the compound represented by formula (C1) has a structure represented by —Si—(Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₂ or —Si—(Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₃, further preferably has a structure represented by —Si—(Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃)₃ at an end. Such a structure can be at an end, thereby allowing a cured product formed from the curable composition of the present, invention to achieve higher durability (for example, friction durability).

Specific examples of the group represented by —Si—(Z³—SiR⁷² ₃)₂ or —Si—(—Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃)₂ can include

—Si—R^(a) ₂R^(b) _(l1)R^(c) _(m1) wherein R^(a) is a group represented by —Z³—SiR⁷² ₃ and the sum of l1 and m1 is 1,

—Si—R^(a″) ₂R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1) wherein R^(a″) is a group represented by —Z³—SiR^(72″) ₃ and the sum of l1 and m1 is 1,

—Si—R⁷¹ ₂R⁷² _(q1)R⁷ _(r1) wherein R⁷¹ is a group represented by —Z³—SiR⁷² ₃ and the sum of q1 and r1 is 1, or

—Si—R⁷¹ ₂R^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1) wherein R⁷¹ is a group represented by —Z³—SiR⁷² ₃ and the sum of q1 and r1 is 1.

In such any compound represented by formula (D) and formula (D1), l2 is preferably 2 or 3, more preferably 3.

In a preferable embodiment, the compound represented by formula (D) has a —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃)₂, —C—(Y—SiR^(85″) ₃)₂ (specifically, —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃)₂R⁸³, —C—(Y—SiR^(85″) ₃), —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵)₃ or —C—(Y—SiR^(85″))₃ structure, further preferably a —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵)₃ or —C—(Y—SiR^(85″))₃ structure at an end; and the compound represented by formula (D1) has a —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃)₂ (specifically, —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵ ₃)₂R⁸³) or —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵)₃ structure, further preferably a —C—(Y—SiR⁸⁵)₃ structure at an end. Such a structure can be at an end, thereby allowing the curable composition of the present invention to contribute to formation of a cured product having higher durability (for example, friction durability).

(Other Component)

The curable composition of the present invention may further include other component. Such other component, is not limited, and may include, for example, a (non-reactive) fluoropolyether compound which can be understood as a fluorine-containing oil, preferably a perfluoro(poly)ether compound (hereinafter, referred to as “fluorine-containing oil”), a stabilizing material (dehydrating agent, molecular sieve, magnesium sulfate or methyl o-formate), a viscosity modifier, a filler, a fluorescent agent, a storage stabilizer, a filling agent, a colorant, a heat resistance improver, a cold resistance improver, a rust inhibitor, an adhesiveness improver, and/or a liquid strengthening agent.

The fluorine-containing oil is not limited, and examples thereof Include a compound (perfluoro(poly)ether compound) represented by the following general formula (III):

Rf⁵—(OC₄F₈)_(a′)—(OC₃F₆)_(b′)—(OC₂F₄)_(c′)—(OCF₂)_(a′)—Rf⁶   (III)

wherein Rf⁵ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms (preferably C₁₋₁₆ perfluoroalkyl group), Rf⁶ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms (preferably C₁₋₁₆ perfluoroalkyl group), a fluorine atom or a hydrogen atom, and Rf⁵ and Rf⁶ are more preferably, each independently, a C₁₋₃ perfluoroalkyl group; and

a′, b′, c′ and d′ represent the respective four numbers of repeating units in perfluoro(poly)ether constituting a main backbone of the polymer and are mutually independently an integer of 0 or more and 300 or less, the sum of a′, b′, c′ and d′ is at least 1, preferably 1 to 300, more preferably 20 to 300, the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with the subscript a′, b′, c′ or d′ is not limited in the formula, and, among such repeating units, —(OC₄F₈)— may be any of —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF(CF₃)CF₂)—, —(OCF₂CF₂CF(CF₃))—, —(OC(CF₃)₂CF₂)—, —(OCF₂C(CF₃)₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF(CF₃))—, —(OCF(C₂F₅)CF₂)— and —(OCF₂CF(C₂F₅))—, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)—, and —(OC₃F₆)— may be any of —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)—, —(OCF(CF₃)CF₂)— and —(OCF₂CF(CF₅))—, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)—, and, for example, —(OC₂F₄)— may be any of —(OCF₂CF₂)— and —(OCF(CF₃))—, and is preferably —(OCF₂CF₂)—.

Examples of the perfluoro(poly)ether compound represented by general formula (III) include a compound represented by any of the following general formulae (IIIa) and (IIIb) (which may be adopted singly or as a mixture of two or more kinds thereof).

Rf⁵—(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)_(b″)—Rf⁶   (IIIa)

Rf⁵—(OCF₂CF₂CF₂CF₂)_(a″)—(OCF₂CF₂CF₂)_(b″)—(OCF₂CF₂)_(c″)—(OCF₂)_(d−)—Rf⁶   (IIIb)

In such formulae, Rf⁵ and Rf⁶ are as described above; in formula (IIIa), b″ is an integer of 1 or more and 100 or less; in formula (IIIb), a″ and b″ are each independently an integer of 1 or more and 30 or less, and c″ and d″ are each independently an integer of 1 or more and 300 or less, and the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with subscript. a″, b″, c″, d″ is not limited in the formulae.

The fluorine-containing oil may have a number average molecular weight of 1,000 to 30,000. In particular, the number average molecular weight of the compound represented by formula (IIIa) is preferably 2,000 to 6,000. In one embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the compound represented by formula (IIIb) is 3,000 to 8,000. In another embodiment, the number average molecular weight of the compound represented by formula (IIIb) is 8,000 to 30,000.

The curable composition can include, for example, 0 to 500 parts by mass, preferably 0 to 100 parts by mass, more preferably 1 to 50 parts by mass, further preferably 1 to 5 parts by mass of the fluorine-containing oil based on 100 parts by mass of the fluorine-containing silane compound (more specifically, PFPE-containing silane compound (A)).

The fluorine-containing oil may be a compound represented by general formula Rf′—F, wherein Rf′ is C₅₋₁₆ perfluoroalkyl group, from another viewpoint. The fluorine-containing oil may be a chlorotrifluoroethylene oligomer. The compound represented by Rf′—F and the chlorotrifluoroethylene oligomer are preferable in that high affinity with the perfluoro(poly)ether group-containing silane compound where Rf is a C₁₋₁₆ perfluoroalkyl group is obtained.

The curable composition of the present invention can include the fluorine-containing oil to thereby allow a more flexible cured product to be formed.

In one embodiment, the average molecular weight of the fluorine-containing oil may be higher than the average molecular weight of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, a compound represented by formula (A), (B), (C) or (D)). Such an average molecular weight can be set, thereby allowing a cured product formed by using the curable composition of the present invention to achieve more excellent friction durability and surface lubricity.

In one embodiment, for example, the average molecular weight of the fluorine-containing oil may be lower than the average molecular weight of the fluorine-containing silane compound (for example, a compound represented by formula (A), (B), (C) or (D)). Such an average molecular weight can be set, thereby allowing the curable composition of the present invention to not only be inhibited from being reduced in transparency of a cured product formed by using the curable composition, but also lead to formation of a cured product having high friction durability and high surface lubricity.

Examples of the storage stabilizer can include methyltrimethoxysilane, methyltripropenoxysilane, vinyitributanoximesxlane and methyltriacetoxysilane.

Examples of the filling agent can include fibrous filling agents such as asbestos, glass fiber and an organic fiber.

Examples of the colorant can include a pigment and a dye.

Examples of the heat resistance improver can Include colcothar and cerium oxide.

Examples of the adhesiveness improver can include β-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane, γ-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane, γ-methacrylcxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-methacryloxypropylmethyldiethoxysilane, N-β-(aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, γ-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane and γ-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane.

Examples of the liquid strengthening agent can include reticular polysiloxane having a triorganosiloxy unit and a SiO₂ unit.

An adhesion promoter such as carboxylic anhydride or pyromellitic acid tetraallyl ester can be further added to the curable composition of the present invention.

For example, such a curable composition may be configured as a one-liquid type composition or may be configured as a two-liquid type composition where the two liquids are mixed in use, depending on the application.

(Application)

A cured product of the curable composition of the present invention can be used in, for example, a potting material or a sealing material. A cured product of the curable composition of the present invention can be used by, for example, filling any void (for example, a bonding section of a housing and a printed board, or a space between a metal terminal section and a mold resin subjected to resin-molding) of an electronic member with the cured product, and drying the resultant after such filling.

In order that a cured product (for example, a potting material or a sealing material) having higher abrasion resistance is formed, an object to be treated is preferably washed with acetone, hydrofluoroether or the like and thereafter dried for removal of an oily content on the wall of any void, before the treatment with the curable composition of the present invention. The object can be further subjected to a pre-treatment with UV ozone, oxygen plasma or the like, in addition to the washing, thereby allowing abrasion resistance of the cured product to be more enhanced.

A primer treatment can be, if necessary, applied onto, for example, the wall of any void before the treatment with the curable composition of the present invention, thereby enhancing adhesiveness of a potting material formed from the curable composition and more enhancing abrasion resistance. For example, the primer treatment may be performed in the same conditions as these of a primer treatment with a silane coupling agent, according to an ordinary method.

Herein, various primers can also be used in combination in the case where the cured product obtained from the curable composition of the present invention is allowed to adhere to various base materials.

The temperature in the treatment is not limited, and the treatment may be usually performed at room temperature. The treatment time is also not limited, and can be, for example, 5 minutes to 1 hour.

In one embodiment, the curable composition can be cured at room temperature. The curable composition is particularly useful as a composition for formation of a potting material.

In one embodiment, the curable composition of the present invention, when used, may be further diluted with a solvent and thus used, depending on the application and the intended use. Any of the fluorine-based solvents exemplified above can be used as the solvent for use in the dilution. For example, the composition may be used, with being dissolved in a solvent such as 1,3-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene, Fluorinert (manufactured by 3M), perfluorobutyl methyl ether or perfluorobutyl ethyl ether so that a desired concentration is achieved. In particular, the solvent is preferably used in the application of thin film coating.

The curable composition of the present invention enables a cured product having favorable adhesiveness to a metal or a plastic base material to be formed, arid thus can be useful particularly as an adhesive to be applied to peripherals of electrical and electronic components and peripherals of in-car members. The curable composition of the present invention has a favorable elastic modulus particularly even at a low temperature, and thus can be usefully used in, for example, an automobile member (for example, a sealing material, specifically, a gasket), particularly an automobile member usable in a cool region (for example, −50° C. or less).

A cured product of the curable composition of the present invention is favorable in chemical resistance, acid resistance and base resistance. Such a cured product of the curable composition of the present invention can also be used in a chemical plant, a semiconductor manufacturing equipment, or the like.

Such a cured product of the curable composition of the present invention can be favorable in transparency. Such a cured product can be particularly used in a member which is demanded to have transparency, for example, an optical material such as a lens, a material for a display, or a material for lighting.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is more specifically described with reference to the following Examples, but is not intended to be limited to such Examples. The occurrence order of repeating units constituting perfluoxopolyether is not limited in the present Examples.

Fluorine-containing silane compounds and cross-linking agents used in Examples 1-1 to 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-1 to 1-4 are as follows.

Fluorine-Containing Silane Compound

Compound 1: (C₂H₅C)₃SiCH₂CH₂CH₂NHCOCF₂ (OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—CF₂CONHCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OC₂H₅)₃

wherein e=48 and f=37

Compound 2:

(C₂H₅O)₃SiCH₂CH₂CH₂NHCOCF₂(OCF₂CF(CF₃))_(m)OCF₂CF₂O(CF(CF₃)CF₂O)_(n)—CF₂CONHCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OC₂H₅)₃

wherein m+n=54

Cross-Linking Agent

Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)

Example 1-1

Compound 1 as a fluorine-containing silane compound, tetraethoxysilane as a cross-linking agent, and teroraisopropaxy titanium as a curing catalyst were weighed in a glass vessel for mixing in amounts of 100 parts by weight, 5 parts by weight, and 0.1 parts by weight, respectively, and stirred with a magnetic stirrer, to prepare a curable composition.

Example 1-2

A curable composition was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that the amount of the catalyst added was any amount described in Table 1.

Comparative Examples 1-1 and 1-2

Each curable composition was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that Ti (OC₄H₉)₄ was used as the catalyst and the amount of the catalyst added was each amount described in Table 1.

Examples 1-3 and 1-4

Each curable composition was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-1 except that compound 2 was used as the fluorine-containing silane compound, Zr(OC₃H₇)₄ was used as the catalyst and the amount of the catalyst added was each amount described in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1-3

A curable composition was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-3 except that Zr(OC₄H₉)₄ was used as the catalyst and the amount of the catalyst added was any amount described in Table 1.

Comparative Example 1-4

A curable composition was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1-3 except that Ti(OC₃H₇)₂(C₆H₉O₃)₂ was used as the catalyst and the amount of the catalyst added was any amount described in Table 1.

(Measurement Method of Haze Value)

Each of the curable compositions obtained in Examples and Comparative Examples was left to still stand under an atmosphere of 25° C. and a humidity of 65% for 24 hours, thereby providing a cured product.

The haze value of the resulting cured product was measured with Haze-gard II manufactured by Toyo Seiki Seisaku-sho, Ltd., according to ASTM D1003. The results are shown in Table 1.

Each unit “%” of the amounts of the cross-linking agent and the catalyst added, in Table 1, means a ratio (% by mass) to the mass of the fluorine-containing silane compound.

TABLE 1 Fluorine- Cross-linking agent Catalyst containing silane Amount Amount Haze compound Type added Type added value Example 1-1 Compound 1 TEOS 5.0% Ti—(OC₃H₇)₄ 0.10% 0.25 Example 1-2 Compound 1 TEOS 5.0% Ti—(OC₃H₇)₄ 0.50% 0.35 Comparative Compound 1 TEOS 5.0% Ti—(OC₄H₉)₄ 0.10% 1.2 Example 1-1 Comparative Compound 1 TEOS 5.0% Ti—(OC₄H₉)₄ 0.50% 1.9 Example 1-2 Example 1-3 Compound 2 TEOS 5.0% Zr—(OC₃H₇)₄ 0.10% 0.23 Example 1-4 Compound 2 TEOS 5.0% Zr—(OC₃H₇)₄ 0.50% 0.29 Comparative Compound 2 TEOS 5.0% Zr—(OC₄H₉)₄ 0.10% 1.5 Example 1-3 Comparative Compound 2 TEOS 5.0% Ti(OC₃H₇)₂(C₃H₉O₃)₂ 0.10% 3.2 Example 1-4

Example 2-1

A curable composition was prepared which included the following PFPE-containing silane compound, cross-linking agent, catalyst and solvent and which had a solid concentration of 10% by mass. Hereinafter, the solid concentration refers to a mass ratio of the PFPE-containing silane compound, the cross-linking agent and the catalyst based on 100 parts by mass of the curable composition.

PFPE-containing silane compound: (C₂H₅O)₃SiCH₂CH₂CH₂NHCOCF₂(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)—CF₂CONHCH₂CH₂CH₂Si(OC₂H₅)₃, wherein e=40 and f=58

Cross-linking agent: tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) (10 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of PFPE-containing silane compound)

Catalyst: tetraisopropyl titanate (0.09 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of PFPE-containing silane compound)

Solvent: Novec HFE7200

Examples 2-2 to 2-4

Each curable composition was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2-1 except that the solid concentration was each concentration described in Table 2.

A glass plate was spray-coated with each of the curable compositions obtained in Examples 2-1 to 2-4. Thereafter, the resultant was left to still stand under an atmosphere of 25° C. and a humidity of 65% for 24 hours, thereby forming a cured product.

The thickness of the resulting cured product was measured with a laser microscope (Model No.: VK9710, manufactured by Keyence Corporation). The results are shown in Table 2. Respective numbers in “Thickness” in Table 2 here represent the minimum value and the maximum value measured. The description “Uniform” in Table 2 represents a state where a continuous film was formed without, any region not coated, like a pinhole. Specifically, an image obtained by the laser microscope was visually confirmed, and any portion where a glass surface was exposed was determined as having a pinhole.

Comparative Example 2-1

A composition was prepared which included the following compound having PFPE and the following solvent and which had a solid concentration of 80% by mass.

Compound having PFPE:

CF₃(OC₃F₆)_(e)CF₂(CH₂CH(Si(OCH₃)₃))₃H

wherein e=24

Solvent: Novec HFE7200

A cured product was formed from the composition obtained in Comparative Example 2, according to the same operation as in the compositions obtained in Examples. The cured product obtained from the composition of Comparative Example 2 was not in the form of gel, and a film formed was not uniform.

TABLE 2 Solid concentration Thickness (parts by mass) (μm) State of film Example 2-1 10 8-15 Uniform Example 2-2 30 21-33  Uniform Example 2-3 50 30-43  Uniform Example 2-4 80 45-102 Uniform

A continuous uniform film can be formed from the curable composition of the present invention as shown in Examples 2-1 to 2- 4.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be suitably utilized for forming a fluorine-containing sealing material for embedding any void (for example, a void at a display edge) of a display or between electronic members such as a printed board in electronic equipment. 

1. A curable composition comprising: a fluorine-containing silane compound having two or more Si atoms each bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group; an organosilicon compound having at least two —O—R^(g3)(s) each bonding to a Si atom, wherein each R^(g3), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; and a metal-based catalyst represented by M(—O—R^(h))_(η), wherein: M represents a metal atom; each R^(h), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and η is the coordination number of M.
 2. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium and tin.
 3. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein M is titanium or zirconium.
 4. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the metal-based catalyst is at least one selected from the group consisting of tetrapropyl titanate and tetrapropyl zirconate.
 5. The curable composition according to claim 1, comprising 0.05 to 5.0 parts by mass of the metal-based catalyst based on 100 parts by mass of the fluorine-containing silane compound.
 6. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-containing silane compound is a perfluoropolyether group-containing silane compound.
 7. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the the fluorine-containing silane compound is at least one perfluoropolyether group-containing silane compound represented by formula (A), (B), (C) or (D):

wherein: each PFPE, at each occurrence, is independently a group represented by formula: —(OC₆F₁₂)_(a)—(OC₅F₁₀)_(b)—(OC₄F₈)_(c)—(OC₃X¹⁰ ₆)_(d)—(OC₂F₄)_(e)—(OCF₂)_(f)— wherein a, b, c, d, e and f are each independently an integer of 0 or more and 200 or less, the sum of a, b, c, d, e and f is at least 1, the occurrence order of the respective repeating units in parentheses with a, b, c, d, e or f is not limited in the formula, and each X¹⁰, at each occurrence, is independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom or a chlorine atom; each R¹³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; each R¹⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms; each R¹¹, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; each R¹², at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R^(11″), R^(12″), R^(13″) and R^(14″) have the same meanings as R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴, respectively; n1 with respect to each (—SiR¹³ _(n1)R¹⁴ _(3-n1)) unit or each (—SiR^(13″) _(n1)R^(14″) _(3-n1)) unit is independently an integer of 0 to 3; provided that at least two groups selected from the group consisting of R¹³ and R^(13″), at each occurrence, are each independently present in formulae (A) and (B); each X¹, at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group; each X², at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond or a divalent organic group; each t, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 to 10; each α1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 to 9; each X³, at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group; each β1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 to 9; each X⁵, at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group; each γ1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 to 9; each R^(a), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1); each Z³, at each occurrence, independently represents an oxygen atom or a divalent organic group; each R⁷¹, at each occurrence, independently represents R^(a′); R^(a′) has the same meaning as R^(a); the number of Si linearly linked via a Z³ group in R^(a) is at most 5; each R⁷², at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; each R⁷³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; each p1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each q1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each r1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each R^(a″), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R^(72″) _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1); R^(72″) has the same meaning as R⁷²; provided that the sum of p1, q1 and r1 with respect to (—Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1)) or with respect to (—Z³—SiR⁷¹ _(p1)R⁷² _(q1)R⁷³ _(r1)) is 3 and at least one q1 in formula (C) is an integer of 1 to 3; each R^(b), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; each R^(c), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R^(b″) and R^(c″) have the same meanings as R^(b) and R^(c), respectively; each k1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each l1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each m1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; provided that the sum of k1, l1 and ml with respect to (SiR^(a) _(k1)R^(b) _(l1)R^(c) _(m1)) or with respect to (SiR^(a″)R^(b″) _(l1)R^(c″) _(m1)) is 3; at least two groups selected from the group consisting of R^(b), R^(b″), R⁷² and R^(72″) are present in (C); each X⁷ independently represents a single bond or a di- to decavalent organic group; each δ1 is independently an integer of 1 to 9; each R^(d), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R⁸² _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2); each Z⁴, at each occurrence, independently represents an oxygen atom or a divalent organic group; each R⁸¹, at each occurrence, independently represents R^(d′); R^(d′) has the same meaning as R^(d); the number of C linearly bonded via a Z⁴ group in R^(d) is at most 5; each R⁸², at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2); each Y, at each occurrence, independently represents a divalent organic group; each R⁸⁵, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydroxyl group or a hydrolyzable group; each R⁸⁶, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; each R⁸³, at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a lower alkyl group; each p2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each q2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each r2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each R^(d″), at each occurrence, independently represents —Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R^(82″) _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2); R^(82″) represents —Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2); provided that the sum of p2, q2 and r2 with respect to (—Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R⁸² _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2)) or with respect to (—Z⁴—CR⁸¹ _(p2)R^(82″) _(q2)R⁸³ _(r2)) is 3; n2 with respect to a (—Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2)) unit or with respect to a (—Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2)) unit independently represents an integer of 0 to 3; R^(85″) and R^(86″) have the same meanings as R⁸⁵ and R⁸⁶, respectively; each R^(e), at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2); each R^(e″), at each occurrence, independently represents —Y—SiR^(85″) _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2); each R^(f), at each occurrence, independently represents a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a lower alkyl group; R^(f″) has the same meaning as R^(f); each k2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; each l2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; and each m2, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 0 to 3; provided that the sum of k2, l2 and m2 with respect to (CR^(d) _(k2)R^(e) _(l2)R^(f) _(m2)) or with respect to (CR^(d″) _(k2)R^(e″) _(l2)R^(f″) _(m2)) is 3, and two or more groups selected from the group consisting of a group represented by —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R⁸⁶ _(3-n2) wherein n2 is 1 or more and a group represented by —Y—SiR⁸⁵ _(n2)R^(86″) _(3-n2) wherein n2 is 1 or more are present in formula (D).
 8. The curable composition according to claim 7, wherein X¹⁰ is a fluorine atom.
 9. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein such a Si atom bonding to at least one group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a hydrolyzable group is present at each of both ends of a molecular backbone of the fluorine-containing silane compound, in the fluorine-containing silane compound.
 10. The curable composition according to claim 1, wherein the organosilicon compound comprises any organosilicon compound represented by the following formulae (E-1) to (E-5):

wherein: each R^(g1), at each occurrence, is independently a substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms; each R^(g2), at each occurrence, is independently substituted or unsubstituted and has 1 to 20 carbon atoms; each R^(g3), at each occurrence, is independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group; each R^(g4), at each occurrence, is independently a monovalent organic group; R^(g6) represents R^(g8)—R^(g7)—; each R^(g7), at each occurrence, independently represents a single bond, an oxygen atom or a divalent organic group; each R^(g8), at each occurrence, is independently an amino group, an epoxy group, a methacrylic group, a vinyl group or a mercapto group; each ε1, at each occurrence, is independently an integer of 1 or more; each ε2, at occurrence, is independently 2 or 3; each ε3, at each occurrence, is independently 2 or 3; ε4 is an integer of 2 or more; ε5 is 1 or 2; and ε6 is an integer of 0 or more. 